Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANSALVADOR683
2009-07-20 14:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy San Salvador
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSN #0683 2011458 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 201458Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1408 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000683
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KJUS ES
SUBJECT: ASSEMBLY ELECTS NEW SUPREME COURT
REF: SAN SALVADOR 623
UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000683
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KJUS ES
SUBJECT: ASSEMBLY ELECTS NEW SUPREME COURT
REF: SAN SALVADOR 623
1. Summary: The Legislative Assembly unanimously elected
five Supreme Court justices July 16. The Assembly failed to
elect a new Attorney General or a new Public Defender; those
elections are expected to be postponed until August. End
Summary.
2. On July 16, the Legislative Assembly unanimously elected
five justices to the Supreme Court ending a two-week impasse
that had left the courts gridlocked (reftel). Belarmino
Jaime, an attorney from the banking sector, was elected Chief
Justice. Florentin Melendez, Edward Sidney Blanco, Rodolfo
Gonzalez, and Maria Luz Regalado were also elected to the
Supreme Court.
3. The Assembly failed to reach a consensus on a new
Attorney General or a new Public Defender. As a result, the
Assembly decided to re-open the candidate list (accept new
candidates) for the Attorney General position and postponed
the elections until August. Astor Escalante will continue as
the Acting Attorney General until a new Attorney General is
elected.
4. Comment: The Assembly's inability to select Supreme Court
justices by the June 30 deadline left the country with one of
the three branches of government temporarily out of business.
It was not lost on legislators that El Salvador could ill
afford a prolonged institutional crisis while neighboring
Honduras was institutionally melting down. We will meet the
new Chief Justice soon and raise pending extradition cases.
BLAU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KJUS ES
SUBJECT: ASSEMBLY ELECTS NEW SUPREME COURT
REF: SAN SALVADOR 623
1. Summary: The Legislative Assembly unanimously elected
five Supreme Court justices July 16. The Assembly failed to
elect a new Attorney General or a new Public Defender; those
elections are expected to be postponed until August. End
Summary.
2. On July 16, the Legislative Assembly unanimously elected
five justices to the Supreme Court ending a two-week impasse
that had left the courts gridlocked (reftel). Belarmino
Jaime, an attorney from the banking sector, was elected Chief
Justice. Florentin Melendez, Edward Sidney Blanco, Rodolfo
Gonzalez, and Maria Luz Regalado were also elected to the
Supreme Court.
3. The Assembly failed to reach a consensus on a new
Attorney General or a new Public Defender. As a result, the
Assembly decided to re-open the candidate list (accept new
candidates) for the Attorney General position and postponed
the elections until August. Astor Escalante will continue as
the Acting Attorney General until a new Attorney General is
elected.
4. Comment: The Assembly's inability to select Supreme Court
justices by the June 30 deadline left the country with one of
the three branches of government temporarily out of business.
It was not lost on legislators that El Salvador could ill
afford a prolonged institutional crisis while neighboring
Honduras was institutionally melting down. We will meet the
new Chief Justice soon and raise pending extradition cases.
BLAU