Presidential

Haiti President Paves Way for Independent Judiciary

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht/PdH) - President of the Republic, His Excellency Mr. Michel Joseph Martelly, proceeded, this Tuesday, July 3, 2012, the inauguration of members of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ), the first since the development of the 1987 Constitution.

The nine members, including one woman, forming the CSPJ swore before the nation to respect the Constitution, laws and regulations, to ensure the regular functioning of the judiciary and the protection of rights of litigants.

According to Article 1 of the Decree of June 27, 2012, be called President, Vice-President and members of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary citizens:

1. Anel Alexis Joseph
2. Antoine Norgaise
3. Thiers Malette
4. Max Elibert
5. Gustave Pharaon
6. Jean Alix Civil
7. Jean Etienne Mercier
8. Dilia Lemaire
9. Nehemie Joseph

The ceremony of swearing in history took place at the School of Magistrates in the presence of the Presidents of the Senate and House of Deputies, MM. Simon Dieuseul Desras and Levaillant Louis-Jeune, Judges of the Court of Cassation, the Prime Minister, Laurent Salvador Lamothe, members of the Cabinet of Ministers, Magistrates, and representatives of the Diplomatic Corps and Consular and Civil Society.

"The pride I feel at this special moment is a measure of dubious honor now falls to you, ladies and gentlemen CSPJ honorable members, to find yourself in control of that entity as the primary guardians of the independence of the Justice. You enter history as the first celebrities entrusted with the task of organizing the judiciary, to ensure regular and effective functioning of courts, to approve the internal rules of courts," said Chief of State.

The President of the Republic is convinced that the judiciary becomes so hard fought its rightful place in the building of the democratic order that its system works to establish, irreversibly, to the welfare of the nation.

"After more than two lamps of trial and error, since the Decree of 28 December 2005 which created the first Supreme Council of the Judiciary stillborn, through the Law of 13 November 2007 on the same material, two lamps marked by episodes of all kinds of protests, frustrations and ongoing struggles even punctuated by moments of distrust and discouragement, strikes, threats, my Government can finally be proud to carry the ceremony date, a giant step in my policy of strengthening the rule of law ", welcomed HE Mr. Joseph Michel Martelly.

The Head of State who struggle to ensure stability of the three powers, indicate the responsibilities of CSPJ, namely:

• apply the judicial policy of the State;
• advise on any proposed general status of the public record;
• define the policy of recruitment of judges and all court personnel, to organize their career;
• Participate with the Executive Branch to develop training policy for judges, court officers (clerks and bailiffs);
• prepare the budget of the Judiciary, as an organ of administration, control, supervision, discipline and deliberation.

Expressing also its pride, the President of the Supreme Court, Mr. Anel Alexis Joseph, who plays the role of the Office of the President CSPJ, thanked the President of the Republic for having arranged to allow this important body eventually become an independent power, according to the wishes of the Constitution.

Satisfies like more than one, Mr. Anel Alexis Joseph believed that the name of the President Martelly will be engraved in indelible letters in the annals of the history of the judiciary.

"So you enter a new dynamic social, political and institutional. Powerful in your hands is played now the fate of the national judiciary. Be constantly vigilant in fighting that you are called to lead in defense of that independence without which the moral authority which is the prerogative of your office may be an illusion," noted the President of the Republic.

The Head of State, renewing his greetings to all patriotic Magistrates sitting and standing, encourages them to do justice to whom justice is due, regardless of wealth and rank, without discrimination of any kind:
"... The vow of the Presidency of the Republic is that the Temple of Themis is and remains the sanctuary where the word law is expressed in total freedom."

In addition to the establishment of CSPJ, President Martelly appointed last year a President, a Vice-President and five judges to the Supreme Court to complete this entire judiciary. Which had never been the case since 2004.

"The new order is in operation. It will not stop or will stop. It is irreversible! The Head of State who advocates the establishment of the rule of law as a pillar of the democratic will work, against all odds, the consolidation of the Judiciary in its functional independence compared to Powers policies. It thus prohibits any incursion in the areas of competence of the Judiciary, "said the President of the Republic.

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