Venezuela judicial reform sparks debate over committee composition

Legal experts and human rights defenders are debating a recent partial reform of the Organic Law of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) in Venezuela. The reform modifies Article 65 to expand the Judicial Nominations Committee to 23 members, consisting of 12 representatives from civil society and 11 parliamentarians.

While the change provides a nominal numerical majority to civil society, analysts argue it does not guarantee judicial independence. Critics, including lawyer Rafael Narváez, contend that the inclusion of deputies undermines the committee's purpose. Narváez argues that because deputies are members of a public power branch, they cannot represent civil society, which should instead be composed of universities, professional associations, and student movements.

Other specialists noted that since the preliminary filter is controlled by a commission of 11 deputies, the political influence over the selection process may persist despite the arithmetic shift in committee membership.