With a five to four, majority of the old guard, Judge Luis Ramón Fábrega was elected president of Panama’s Supreme for a period of two years. on Thursday, January 2

He replaces Hernán De León , who served as president since the end of January 2018.

Fábrega, magistrate of the Third Chamber of Administrative Litigation, apart from his vote, got the support of José Ayú Prado, Ángela Russo and Cecilio Cedalise, who usually vote in groups also got the vote of his colleague De León.

María Eugenia López Arias, who took office last December 5, in addition to her vote, got the support of magistrates Olmedo Arrocha, Carlos Vásquez and Maribel Cornejo.

However, López will preside over the Criminal Chamber, where Ayú Prado and Cornejo are also seated/

Sources linked to the Supreme Court of Justice detailed that during the session there were several rounds of voting, since initially there was a tie of four to four: Hernán De León, who presided over the CSJ on an interim basis until yesterday, abstained in the first  two times, which blocked the decision. However, after talks they reached a consensus.

Fabrega said that the Court has a lot of challenges. the main one, to improve the administration of justice, and to change the perception of citizens  of that State

In December 2017, Fabrega had open heart surgery from which he recovered favorably.

Challenges
Among the challenges facing the new president of the Court are the implementation of the judicial career, considered one of the great debts of the Judicial Branch; build new offices in some judicial districts where more judges are required due to the population increase.

In recent years says La Prensa , the administration of justice has been the subject of harsh criticism following a series of judicial decisions that meet the expectations of citizens, especially those related to corruption cases in. There is even talk of selling decisions Constant overseas trips have also been questioned despite perennial complaints about lack of budget.