[REVISION HISTORY]

Dominican Republic judicial and constitutional reform

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What changed

2026-11-05 12:30 UTC → 2026-11-06 15:21 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Dominican Republic continues to advance judicial and constitutional reforms. Following a period of institutional uncertainty, the National Council of the Magistracy (CNM) has unanimously elected Justiniano Montero Montero as the new President of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) and the Council of the Judicial Power. Montero, a career judge who has served on the Supreme Court since 2019, succeeds Luis Henry Molina. The new leadership is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10 at the National Palace. The appointment follows pressure from civil society groups. The Dominican Alliance Against Corruption (ADOCCO), led by Julio César De la Rosa Tiburcio, along with Participación Ciudadana, had urged the CNM to expedite appointments to resolve vacancies and prevent Montero, who was recently confirmed for an additional seven years following a ~~bottleneck in the judicial system. The delay in the selection process had previously caused concerns regarding~~ performance evaluation, will lead an institutional ~~stability and the closure of offices belonging~~ transition to ~~outgoing magistrates.~~ ensure administrative continuity. In addition to Montero, the CNM selected six new magistrates to fill long-standing vacancies: Ylona María de la Rocha Camilo, Diomede Ydelfo Villalona Guerrero, Amauri Antonio Pimentel Fabián, Arelis Socorro Ricourt Gómez, Antonia Josefina Grullón Blandino, and Julio César Emilio Canó Alfau. Business organizations, including CONEP, AIRD, and the National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE), as well as the Dominican Institute of Procedural Law (INDODPRO), have expressed support for these appointments, noting their importance for judicial ~~independence, legal certainty,~~ independence and legal certainty. Senator Rogelio Genao also noted the ~~business climate. To address~~ appointment as a ~~critical judicial backlog,~~ milestone for the ~~Civil and Commercial Chamber~~ separation of ~~the SCJ has implemented a plenary session model to resolve over 10,000 undecided cassation appeals.~~ powers. Regarding the new Penal Code, which was promulgated in 2025 after approximately 20 years of debate, the Senate has approved a delay for provisions governing the criminal liability of legal entities until November 5, 2028. ~~Meanwhile, the~~ The Code faces significant controversy ~~regarding~~ because it excludes the “three causes” for legal ~~abortion, leading~~ abortion: risks to a the mother’s life or health, fetal non-viability, or pregnancy resulting from rape or incest. A constitutional ~~challenge.~~ challenge regarding these omissions has been filed with the Constitutional Court.

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