The Council of the Magistracy of the Nation began on Wednesday to discuss the ruling that requests to suspend in his position and initiate the political trial to dismiss the federal and electoral judge of Mendoza, Walter Bento, investigated in the criminal justice as leader of an illicit association that allegedly sold judicial favors to smugglers.
Two weeks ago the Accusation Commission of the Council approved, with the vote of the opposition councilors and the abstention of the Kirchner representatives who have been defending the magistrate, the beginning of the process of dismissal of the Mendoza judge, for the alleged poor performance of his functions.
Judicial sources said there would be the necessary two-thirds of its 19 members to start the jury that could end in his dismissal.
In parallel to the Council's process, Bento will face the start on July 26 of a trial against him, accused of charging prisoners for drug trafficking and smuggling in exchange for benefits.
In this complex scenario, the Mendoza judge offered his defense in October of last year in two stages that added more than 7 hours of exposure to the counselors, whom he told to be "innocent" and not have committed "any crime."
His explanations did not convince the councilors who approved the process in the commission with the votes of the opposition councilors and the abstention of the ruling party, headed by Rodolfo Tailhade, due to "inconsistencies" in the opinion.
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A commission of the Council of the Magistracy proposed to suspend the judge of Mendoza Walter Bento
"Our bloc decided not to accompany that ruling but it was not an opposition to the accusatory proposal, much less a blockade and not to mention a defense of the magistrate, who clearly has to give explanations," Deputy Councilor Tailhade wanted to explain in a publication on his video platform.
With the assistance of the 19 councilors, the council needs 13 votes to suspend Bento, a very tight number if the 6 councilors of the ruling party who raised their dissent with the ruling are discounted.
For this reason, the vote of the criminal chamberlain Alberto Lugones, close to the ruling party but with freedom of conscience to vote with the opposition if he deems it necessary, will gain centrality today.
In addition to the Bento case, the plenary will try to agree on shortlists to cover positions in criminal oral courts and in courts of fiscal and tax executions.
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