judicial

Age Matters

The president of the Supreme Court considers replacing judges over the legal retirement age.

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Deliberations: Supreme Court judge Harley Mitchell (left) will consider a request from the Frente Nacional contra la Corrupción.980922

The president of the Corte Suprema, Harley Mitchell, announced yesterday that he will analyze the request to replace judges on the higher courts whose years exceed the legal retirement age established by law by the Caja de Seguro Social (CSS).

The current retirement age for men is 62 and 57 for women.

The request, delivered in a letter to Mitchell by the Frente Nacional contra la Corrupción, also suggests appointing half a dozen substitutes for absent judges, and replacing those who have active private practices with career officials.

Through the Secretaría de Prensa, Mitchell said that he not only appreciated the suggestion, but that he will analyze the content of the letter. Moreover, he said, he shares some of the concerns expressed in the letter.

The Frente Nacional contra la Corrupción made reference to judges of the Primer Tribunal Superior, Nodiel Jaramillo, who turned 70 last February 3, and his colleague Nelson Ruiz, who turned 62 in December.

The group also mentioned Segundo Tribunal judges, Joaquín Ortega, 73, and Elvia Batista Solís, age 67, among others.

La Prensa called Judge Jaramillo's office yesterday, but Jaramillo said he had "no comment" about this subject. The same answer was given by other judges.