In a significant move for the Argentinian judiciary, the newly appointed Minister of Justice, Juan Bautista Mahiques, has announced that he will first submit lists of substitute judges to the Senate, indicating that the immediate filling of Supreme Court vacancies is not a priority. This decision has been welcomed by the judicial community who see it as a step towards addressing the backlog in the appointment of judges in lower courts. The Ministry is currently in the midst of resolving appointments for 37% of vacant judicial positions across the country.

Substitute judges, or conjueces, play an essential role within the judicial framework by replacing regular judges when necessary, and their decisions carry the same legal weight. The introduction of this provision was aimed at curtailing judicial abuse during the previous administration of Mauricio Macri and ensures that all conjueces go through a rigorous selection process involving the Judicial Council, the President, and the Senate. Mahiques has emphasized that this will be a temporary solution while the lengthy process to appoint permanent judges is underway, starting with the lower tribunals.

The judiciary is watching closely as Mahiques takes these initial steps, with hopes that his approach will expedite the candidacy process for judges and lead to a more efficient judicial system. The successful implementation of this measure could potentially alleviate some of the pressures faced by the judicial system, providing a much-needed interim solution while the process of appointing permanent judges unfolds over time, thus enhancing the overall functionality of the judiciary in Argentina.