Lawyer. Former prosecutor. Former collaborator of a prosecutor of the Nation linked to the Aprista party. Ex-investigated: they accused him of requesting a payment to fix a judicial process. Complicated background. In other times, Juan Fernández Jerí would not have been able to occupy a high position in the administration of justice.
Against the tide, on April 13, the plenary session of the National Justice Board (JNJ) decided to give him the confidence to take over as the first head of the National Authority for Disciplinary Control of prosecutors and support staff of the Public Ministry. But, based on those records, only yesterday, after five months, he was able to swear.
This time has not silenced criticism. The Legal Defense Institute (IDL) and the National Association of Research, Social Promotion and Development Centers continue to ask the JNJ to reevaluate its designation. The Board has decided to turn a deaf ear to any claim, as it has not been made on the appropriate day.
The same thing they have done regarding the criticism against the election of Patricia Benavides as Supreme Prosecutor and the complaints about the changes made when she took office as Prosecutor of the Nation.
Thus, starting today, Fernández will begin to implement the institution that, after the reforms generated by the crisis in the White Necks of the Port case, replaces the disciplinary area of the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office for Internal Control.
In that position, Fernández will have almost as much power as the Nation’s prosecutor. He is not expected to have a clash with her. On the contrary, it is possible that she reinforces the justification that Benavides used to make the changes: order must be put in place.
In addition, both have worked together. Fernández and Benavides were part of the jurisdictional work team of former National Prosecutor José Antonio Peláez Bardales.
In this sense, many prosecutors fear that any critical voice within the Public Ministry will be silenced with a disciplinary process and a rapid request for dismissal. It will be up to Fernandez to prove his critics wrong.
