The president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Luis Henry Molina, announced today that, despite a 73% reduction in judicial court arrears, 44% of criminal courts are in arrears, which is why he urged urgent solutions.
He acknowledged that there is also a delay in 27 courts of the real estate jurisdiction.
“We are not satisfied, the great challenge of default persists and we work so that no person lives in uncertainty due to lack of justice,” he added.
On the occasion of the celebration of Judiciary Daythe president of the SCJ, when highlighting the progress obtained by that power of the State, reported that, of the 11,268 cases admitted in 2023, 98% have already been resolved, while, of the 9,292 cases admitted in 2024, they have already been resolved. 48%. This means that the Supreme Court of Justice has resolved 47,986 cases between June 2019 and November 2024.
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He noted that the number of appeals courts with their daily caseload increased from 37% to 72%; the courts of first instance, from 24% to 64% and the justices of the peace, from 53% to 91%.
He pointed out that, of a total of 696 courts, 508 are up to date, while at the end of 2023 only 30% were up to date and that today, 73% are free of arrears.
“In 2025 we will pay special attention to progress against delays in the courts in the most critical situation. Prioritizing criminal and real estate jurisdictions, especially in places with the highest population density,” said the presiding judge.
Among the factors that have allowed this reduction in arrears, Molina cited the application of Law 2-23 on cassation appeal, jurisdictional discipline achieved at all levels of the judicial system and the application of digital tools that make work more efficient.
Likewise, Judge Molina reported that today, 100% of the Judiciary operates with a digital signature and that more than 6,152 users can manage cases, carry out procedures through the Digital Access Portal, an initiative that has already been implemented in the First and Third Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, in the Superior Administrative Court and in all civil courts.
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Regarding judicial transparency, Molina also announced that “in 2025 all the rulings of the Supreme Court of Justice, since 1913, will be available in digital form. We will thus have the first Judicial Bulletin of the Supreme Court of Justice Online. The same will happen for all other courts, thus consolidating a legacy of open and transparent justice,” he emphasized.
“Transparency is the cornerstone of a legitimate judicial system. Ethics and accountability are essential to consolidate a relationship of trust with society”.
He maintained that this consolidation of trust is reflected in external indicators such as the Rule of Law Index of the World Justice Project, where the Dominican Republic advanced eight positions in the last five years, or the Latinobarómetro, where the country would have registered an improvement in trust. in the four-point judicial system since 2020.
Looking to the future
In the event where different personalities participated, including the Vice President of the Republic, Raquel Peña, and representatives of the different powers of the State, Molina announced that, from May 14 to 16, the Dominican Republic will host the XXII Ibero-American Judicial Summit. “A strategic space to promote policies and good practices for the development of judicial independence and impartiality, which strengthen democracy and the rule of law in the face of current challenges in the region.”
In 2025, a National Judicial Infrastructure Plan will also be executed, as well as a series of external audits for the selection and promotion processes of judges, which will add greater certainty to the efforts already achieved in terms of integrity and independence. In addition, quarterly reports will be published on the progress of all the commitments assumed by the Judiciary.
“On the basis of these measures, and others that will be the result of the current dialogue process, we will have a vision of the path that justice should follow in the next 10 years. A model of justice that prioritizes the active participation of the community and all sectors of the country” announced the presiding judge.
Acts
The acts of the Judiciary begin with a solemn hearing headed by the presiding judge of the Supreme Court of Justice, Luis Henry Molina, and the judges who make up the plenary session of that high court.
The activity took place in the Augusta Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice.
The events included a mass of thanksgiving officiated by the Reverend Father Abraham Apolinario, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, with the presence of the members of the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Council of the Judiciary, male and female judges. and members of the legal community.
