Gloria Porras recently wrote an Opinion piece in Americas Quarterly on the challenges she has faced as a Magistrate in Guatemala’s Constitutional Court, and continues to face following the Guatemala Congress rejection of her election to the current bench. Anyone… Read More ›
Constitutional Court
“Whether on the Court or Not, I Swore to Protect the Constitution”
“This is an affront to democracy, and each and every citizen of the country should be offended,” José Luis Sanz presents an interesting and timely interview with Magistrate Gloria Porras in El Faro English. As presented here, and elsewhere, the… Read More ›
Composition of New Guatemalan Constitutional Court
Peace Brigades International recently posted about the composition if the new Constitutional Court in Guatemala – here is a summary. On March 10, 2021, appointments to the Constitutional Court were complete. Five titular, or permanent, judges and five alternate judges… Read More ›
Guatemalan Congress refuses to appoint graft-fighting top judge
“We are deeply concerned by today’s maneuver to delay the swearing in of a selected constitutional court magistrate. This undermines Guatemala’s commitment to an independent judiciary and addressing systemic corruption,” Acting Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of… Read More ›
A Final Blow to Guatemala’s Justice System
It is crucial that in the coming years, new coalitions coalesce between businesses, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and international allies, to promote a democratization of the country. Otherwise, the only path forward will be the one that leads to authoritarianism…. Read More ›
Women Weavers: To Outsiders We’re Exotic; In Guatemala We’re the “Marías”
An article by Kimberly Rocío López, has been translated into English and published in El Faro, outlining the struggle for recognition of, and respect for the craft of, women textile weavers in Guatemala. The original article is in Spanish and… Read More ›
Statement of ABA President Patricia Lee Refo Re: Appointment of magistrates in Guatemala
The American Bar Association has put out a statement voicing their concerns regarding the appointment of magistrates to the Constitutional Court. WASHINGTON, March 12, 2021 – The American Bar Association is deeply concerned by media accounts and reports from human… Read More ›
Very High Stakes – Elections to the Constitutional Court
By the 23rd March, the five individuals who will serve the next 5-year term on the Guatemala Constitutional Court must be named in order to be sworn in and to take office on the 14th April. This is the date… Read More ›
Political Elites Seek Again to Infiltrate Guatemala’s High Court
Héctor Silva Ávalos has written an article, in InSight Crime, highlighting the current issue of the election of Mynor Moto to the Constitutional Court and his swearing in by Congress in spite of legal challenges against him. The new US… Read More ›
Guatemala Congress Ignores Integrity and Transparency
The Guatemala Congress, no friend of integrity, transparency nor the rule of law, has again chosen to ignore a ruling of the Constitutional Court in swearing in a new justice to that same Court. The Guatemalan Bar and Notaries Association… Read More ›