Argentina's Santa Fe and Mendoza provinces revamp judicial hiring processes

In Santa Fe, the provincial Bar Association condemned the current rules for selecting the new secretary of the Supreme Court of Justice, calling them "closed and corporatist" and arguing they favor internal judicial career paths while violating the recently reformed provincial constitution. The association urged an immediate overhaul of the selection regulations and an extension of the application deadline to ensure equal competition for independent lawyers.

Meanwhile, Mendoza’s Council of the Magistracy announced extraordinary 2026 contests to fill key positions in the Ministerio Público Fiscal and various magistrate posts after a wave of retirements left many vacancies. The contests cover roles such as chief prosecutor, fiscal de instrucción, and judges for criminal, labor, civil, and minor courts, with detailed registration periods and exam dates aimed at normalising court operations and improving access to justice.