Argentina's Justice System Stumbles on New Code and Corruption Issues

Lawyer Pablo del Pino warned that the rollout of Argentina's new Criminal Procedural Code in Salta province is hampered by a lack of resources, training and equipment. Courts are missing audiovisual recording devices, forcing attorneys to use personal phones, and the notification system is fragmented across email, digital platforms, WhatsApp and paper, leaving lawyers uncertain where to file claims. Del Pino noted that despite the positive shift to oral hearings, many motions for nullity and procedural requests remain pending, with hearings scheduled months later.

Constitutional scholar Antonio María Hernández criticised the broader Argentine legal environment, stating that corruption and impunity dominate the justice system. He cited a recent agreement between the Córdoba government and the nation to transfer full control of Ruta Nacional 19 and settle debts of 400 billion pesos, highlighting systemic issues such as poor civic education, a culture of constitutional ignorance, and lengthy corruption investigations that can take an average of 14 years to resolve.