Lawyers Marlon Harold Cornejo Ávalos, Sandra Luz Chicas de Fuentes and Miguel Ángel Flores Durel (current defender of Ana Ligia de Saca) are among the most voted.
The Federation of Bar Associations of El Salvador (FEDAES) organized yesterday the election of 15 out of 30 candidates for magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) and members of the National Council of Magistracy (CNJ).
By 22:15, the SCJ published a list of the most voted. However, only 10 of the 29 minutes had been processed. The lawyers who had the most votes at the time were Marlon Harold Cornejo Ávalos, Sandra Luz Chicas de Fuentes, Miguel Ángel Flores Durel, Óscar Antonio Canales and José Ernesto Clímaco Valiente.
By midnight, the SCJ had finally published the list of those elected, below are the 15 candidates who received the most votes:
Marlon Harold Cornejo Avalos
Sandra Luz The girls from Fuentes
Miguel Angel Flores Durel
José Ernesto Climaco Valiente
Henry Alexander Mejia
Ivonne Lizzette Flores González
Oscar Antonio Canales Cisco
Jorge Alfonso Quinteros Hernandez
Raymundo Alirio Carballo Mejia
Martin Alexander Martinez Osorio
Bacilia del Carmen Portillo
Héctor Arnoldo Blaños Mejía
Jaime Mauricio Campos Pérez
Francisco Diaz Rodriguez
Nidia Oneyda Cáceres de Jimenez
This election takes place every three years. The SCJ judges are elected by the Assembly for a period of nine years, but every three years they are renewed by thirds.
The 14 polling stations at national level opened at 8:00 and closed at 17:00, without any logistical obstacles.
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FEDAES Electoral Committee Chairman Gilberto Canjura Velásquez said the election went smoothly, except for minor issues resolved earlier.
One hour after the close of the vote, the headquarters of the central area still had a medium and constant influx. Velásquez added that in the last election there were about 6,000 voters, this time they printed 13,000 ballots.
“We sent to print 13,000 sheets of ballot paper; it is always small, as the community is around 30,000, but as the culture of voter exercise, in this case of lawyers, is not yet well promoted. “Before and during the elections, FEDAES invited the country’s lawyers to vote. “We need to take responsibility for this, because the SCJ magistrates are coming from here.”
However, Citizens for an Independent Court posted a series of photos on its Twitter account showing how some magistrate candidates asked to vote during the vote, despite being banned.
Likewise, in order to enter the polling stations there were requirements to avoid contagion. The entry of attendants was forbidden and each lawyer had to present his ID.
Sonia Margarita de Lizama, a lawyer in the Judicial Branch for more than 15 years, said that biosecurity protocols are guaranteed by the FEDAES organization. He expressed that he went to the polls because he expects “a change and transparency” in the next composition of magistrates.
Likewise, Juan Ramírez, a private lawyer since 2005, voted because he expects suitable officials without political alliances. That way, compliance with laws and not demands from political sectors is guaranteed, he said.
From these elections and from those convened by the National Council of Magistracy (CNJ), a list will be obtained from which the five magistrates who will form the SCJ after June 30 and their deputies will be finally elected.
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