Costa Rica: Judicial and Professional Regulation Debates

In Costa Rica, senior magistrate Gerardo Alfaro Vargas has announced his candidacy for the presidency of the Supreme Court of Justice. Drawing on 36 years of judicial experience, Alfaro’s platform focuses on improving institutional transparency, efficiency, and accountability. His bid comes as the nation faces rising violent crime and transnational criminal activity, which have strained judicial infrastructure and increased public demand for modernized procedural workflows.

Separately, the Colegio de Contadores Públicos de Costa Rica has expressed support for a recent criterion issued by the Comptroller General regarding a bill that proposes to eliminate mandatory professional membership (colegiatura). The Comptroller warns that a voluntary membership model could undermine the oversight and auditing of public funds. The Colegio argues that maintaining mandatory requirements for specific roles, such as auditors of public resources, is essential to ensure technical competence, ethics, and the protection of the public interest.