Argentina faces legislative pushback over Milei's decree limiting judicial appointment transparency

On 16 June the executive issued Decree 467/2026, eliminating citizen observations and gender‑diversity requirements in the selection of Supreme Court justices, magistrates, prosecutors and defenders. The measure removes provisions introduced by Decrees 222/03 and 588/03 that had guaranteed public scrutiny and equal‑opportunity criteria.

Senator Jorge Capitanich responded by proposing a law that would permanently require public, transparent and participatory procedures for appointing candidates to the Supreme Court, arguing that “the integration of the highest tribunal cannot depend on decisions of a few.”

The Supreme Court itself voiced concerns about a related executive proposal to reform the organisation of criminal‑judge colleges, outlining five objections and urging institutional dialogue. Meanwhile the Colegio de Magistrados defended the independence of judges, emphasizing that disputes such as the controversy surrounding Judge Diego Manuel Sanz must be resolved within the legal process.

A coalition of ten civil‑society organisations, including the ACIJ, CELS and Amnesty International, issued a joint statement denouncing the decree as a rollback of democratic participation, gender balance and judicial quality. The debate reflects broader tensions over President Javier Milei’s drive to streamline judicial appointments while critics warn of diminished transparency and accountability.