# Venezuela judicial reform and TSJ selection process

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/venezuela-judicial-reform-and-tsj-selection-process
> Updated: 2026-08-14T15:32:53.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

Efforts to reform the selection process for Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) have gained momentum through proposals from civil society and opposition leaders.

The NGO Acceso a la Justicia submitted a proposal to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) seeking an independent election of magistrates. The organization argues that current laws deviate from the 1999 Constitution by transferring candidate preselection from a civil society-led committee to the National Assembly, thereby increasing political influence. They recommended resetting the selection process to the application phase to ensure transparency and restore judicial independence.

Following these developments, opposition leaders have called for professional expertise and transparency in the judicial renewal. Delsa Solórzano of Encuentro Ciudadano emphasized that legitimacy depends on connecting the process to the citizenry, while Julio César Moreno proposed that a commission of legal experts, academics, and former magistrates oversee the Nominations Committee to ensure candidates are selected based on merit.

As part of a broader Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence, the government has granted alternative liberty measures to 131 individuals previously detained for crimes related to institutional stability and peace. However, the judicial reform process remains a central pillar of the transition. Constitutional lawyers suggest that replacing TSJ leadership is vital for restoring the rule of law and the separation of powers. Delsa Solórzano has warned that replacing top magistrates alone is insufficient, arguing for a deeper restructuring that includes appointing career judges through competitive processes. She noted that success depends on transparency, the release of political prisoners, and the safe return of exiles.

## Claims

- Opposition delegate Julio César Moreno called on legal academics and bar associations to participate in the judicial system renewal. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- A new commission of legal experts will be created to oversee the nominations committee and ensure magistrate credentials. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Delsa Solórzano emphasized that the judicial renewal process requires transparency and connection with the public. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence granted alternative liberty measures to 131 detained individuals. (single source)
- The measures apply to individuals with presumed or proven involvement in crimes under Venezuelan law. (single source)
- Solórzano argued that replacing TSJ magistrates is insufficient without restructuring the entire judicial base, including career judges. (single source)
- Constitutional lawyer Juan Carlos Apitz views the TSJ renewal as a significant step toward democratic transition and separation of powers. (single source)
- The Venezuelan government is implementing measures under the Amnesty and Democratic Coexistence Law to promote national reconciliation. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-14: Venezuela initiates judicial reform and TSJ renewal process

Venezuela is implementing judicial reforms to renew its Supreme Tribunal of Justice, granting liberty measures to 131 detainees while opposition leaders call for transparent, expert-led magistrate selection.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-opposition-calls-for-transparency-in-judicial-renewal

### 2026-08-08: Acceso a la Justicia proposes independent TSJ magistrate selection to IACHR

The NGO Acceso a la Justicia has proposed a roadmap to the IACHR to guarantee independent selection of Venezuela's TSJ magistrates, calling for constitutional alignment and increased civil society participation

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/acceso-a-la-justicia-proposes-independent-tsj-magistrate-selection-to-iachr

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Cite as: Venezuela judicial reform and TSJ selection process. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/venezuela-judicial-reform-and-tsj-selection-process