Dominican Republic National Council confirms five Supreme Court judges

The National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) has confirmed five judges of the Dominican Republic’s Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) for new seven-year terms following performance evaluations. The confirmed magistrates are Justiniano Montero Montero, Fran Euclides Soto Sánchez, Anselmo Alejandro Bello Ferreras, Samuel Amaury Arias Arzeno, and Rafael Vásquez Goico.

The Alliance Dominican Against Corruption (ADOCCO) supported the decision, stating that retaining experienced judges contributes to institutional stability and judicial independence. The organization emphasized that continuity based on merit and results strengthens the judicial career and legal certainty.

However, the process has faced criticism from legal professionals. Lawyer Valentín Medrano questioned the CNM’s recent conduct, specifically describing the exclusion of magistrate Francisco Jerez, who currently presides over the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court, as an “injustice” and an “absurdity.” While Medrano supported the ratification of the other judges based on their trajectory and moral standing, he expressed skepticism regarding the upcoming selection process for the next president of the Supreme Court.