La Rioja Federal Court faces controversy over judge and appointment

The Federal Justice system in La Rioja, Argentina, is embroiled in a multi-faceted controversy involving Judge Jorge Gamal Abdel Chamia and the appointment of Daniela Belén Herrera Piedrabuena Iturbe as Chief of Staff for the Federal Criminal Oral Court.

The Union of Employees of the National Justice (UEJN) has filed an urgent request for Chamia’s recusal. The union alleges that Chamia’s public comments regarding a judicial employee, who had previously accused him of sexual harassment and workplace violence, compromise his impartiality. Chamia reportedly used derogatory terms to describe the employee in a recent media interview.

Simultaneously, the appointment of Herrera Piedrabuena has drawn scrutiny because she is the daughter of Judge Daniel Herrera Piedrabuena, the magistrate overseeing the investigation into Chamia. While the UEJN argues the appointment bypassed seniority protocols, the Sindicato de Trabajadores Judiciales de la República Argentina (SITRAJU) has defended the move, citing Herrera Piedrabuena’s thirteen years of experience and academic credentials. Herrera Piedrabuena issued a statement defending the legality of her appointment, asserting that her professional trajectory justifies her position.