judicial

Mitchell reassigns security personnel

Ex-Supreme Court magistrate Dixon tried to retain her state bodyguards and driver after leaving her post.

The new president of the Supreme Court has called for the reassignment of security personnel to other offices in need.

JORGE FERNÁNDEZ/LA PRENSA

parting words: President Martín Torrijos (left) talks with Graciela Dixon (left), who tried to retain state security personnel and a driver after she left her post. 974826

In an act unprecedented in recent years, former Supreme Court justice Graciela Dixon retained the privilege of having three bodyguards and a driver weeks after she completed her term on the nation's highest court of law. La Prensa tried repeatedly to reach the former magistrate for comment, but she has not replied. On Jan. 22. the newspaper requested information on the subject from the judiciary's press office, but again was unable to obtain any information.

On the following day, Wednesday, Jan. 23, the Órgano Judicial reported that the new president of the Supreme Court, Harley Mitchell, had ordered his administrative secretary, Vielza Rios, to redeploy certain security personnel assigned to the Presidency of the Court. The instructions appear in a note dated Jan. 22 in which Ríos orders the chief of Security, Mario Herrera, to relocate eight security personnel to judicial divisions and offices of the Republic that "require their services with great urgency." Ríos also asked Herrera for a list of all security officers and their location.

The names of the bodyguards in Dixon’s service appear on the list.

Mitchell, who has vowed to fight against corruption, has also asked Riós to begin an audit of the Court's assets starting from the time when he assumed office.