Dominican judges warn of confidence crisis in CNM judicial selection

Political leader Francisco Domínguez Brito warned that a growing lack of confidence among Dominican judges in the Consejo Nacional de la Magistratura (CNM) threatens judicial independence. He noted that many senior judges are refusing to undergo the CNM’s performance‑evaluation process, saying, “When judges with trajectory prefer not to participate, the country must ask what is happening.” Domínguez Brito argued that perceptions of political influence in appointments undermine the credibility of the high courts and called for greater transparency, proposing an advisory and oversight council composed of university rectors and former Supreme Court presidents.

At the same time, the Supreme Court of Justice is undergoing a restructuring, with eleven magistrates, including its president, slated for replacement under CNM procedures. Critics argue that such changes have not improved the speed or fairness of the justice system, raising broader concerns about the effectiveness of reforms and the overall health of the Dominican judiciary.