The former president of the Constitutional Court, Milton Ray Guevara, expressed his concern about the possible collapse of the Dominican Republic’s judicial power and the threat it would pose to the nation. “If there is a collapse of the judicial power, the consequences will be terrible for the Dominican Republic”, he stated, adding that he remains in prayer for that situation not to materialize.
Reforms necessary to strengthen justice
Guevara argued that the country needs structural reforms that consolidate the justice system. According to the former president, “without justice, there is no peace, democracy, or development”. The jurist highlighted the importance of choosing a person with experience in the legal and social life to lead the reforms he considers indispensable.
Criticism of the selection of high-ranking judicial officials
The former president rejected the idea that the president of the Supreme Court of Justice must necessarily come from the judicial career. He cited examples from the United States, where, among the 17 presidents of the Supreme Court, nine did not come from the judicial career, and mentioned John Jay and John Marshall as references for the selection model in that country. Guevara argued that the diversity of trajectories can enrich the exercise of judicial power.
Non-compliance with sentences and its impact
The jurist also addressed the issue of contempt for sentences issued by the Constitutional Court. “The administration places itself above the law when it does not comply with a sentence; that is a violation of the Rule of Law”, he explained. He recalled that during his tenure at the TC, he developed initiatives to promote compliance with sentences, including two diplomas for members of the National Police.
Comparison with other countries
Guevara pointed out that non-compliance with sentences is not exclusive to the Dominican Republic, making reference to similar experiences in Panama and Colombia. He also mentioned his participation in a meeting of presidents of constitutional courts in South Korea, where the issue was discussed. According to him, the country has one of the lowest levels of non-compliance with sentences among the cases it handles.
Public opinion on the Penal Code
The former president revealed that 80% of Dominicans support the new Penal Code, although 30% of the population indicates not knowing it. He pointed out that the commission he presides has as its immediate objective to make known the content of the regulation.
Credits: n.com.do
