Fernando Cruz Castro

Fernando Cruz Castro is a Costa Rican lawyer and judge. He serves as 53rd President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica.

Fernando Cruz Castro
53rd President of the Supreme Court of Costa Rica
In office
August 1, 2018 – September 26, 2022
PresidentCarlos Alvarado Quesada
Preceded byCarlos Chinchillia Sandí
Succeeded byOrlando Aguirre Gómez
Magistrate of Supreme Court of Costa Rica
Preceded byCarlos Arguedas Ramírez
Personal details
Born
Fernando Cruz Castro

(1949-01-25) 25 January 1949 (age 75)
San José, Costa Rica
SpouseVirginia Chacón Vega m.1979
Parent(s)Claudio Cruz Zaniboni, Jetty Castro Durán
Residence(s)San José, Costa Rica
EducationUniversity of Costa Rica, Complutense University of Madrid
OccupationLawyer

Early life

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He has a degree in Law from the University of Costa Rica and holds a Law Doctorate from the Complutense University of Madrid.[1]

Career

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He began his career as an agent of Faults and Misdemeanor in Alajuela in 1972, where he served as a public prosecutor, general prosecutor, general judge, superior judge and president of the Court of Criminal Cassation. He was appointed as magistrate of the Constitutional Chamber, replacing Carlos Arguedas Ramírez, who retired in 2004.[1]

On 15 November 2012, 38 legislators of the Legislative Assembly did not re-elect Cruz, who received votes only from the benches of the Citizen Action Party, the Accessibility Without Exclusion Party and independent deputies José María Villalta and Luis Fishman.[2] The then leader of the faction of the ruling National Liberation Party, Fabio Molina, stated that it was a call for attention to the Judiciary. The opposition accused the ruling party of forging a political vendetta since Cruz had voted against the interests of the National Liberation Party, such as the presidential re-election, the Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement and the Crucitas mining case. His dismissal caused protests from citizens and staff of the Judiciary, as well as the condemnation of the International Association of Judges. Fishman filed an appeal before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court arguing that the vote was taken at the wrong time, resulting in Cruz' automatic re-election. The substitute magistrates who heard the appeal agreed and Cruz was reinstated.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Don Fernando Cruz Castro". Poder-judicial.go.cr. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
  2. ^ "Congreso saca a magistrado de Sala IV con histórico voto". Archived from the original on May 10, 2013.
  3. ^ "Sala IV anula acuerdo legislativo y restituye a magistrado Fernando Cruz". Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  4. ^ "Sala Cuarta confirma reelección automática del Magistrado Fernando Cruz - Crhoy.com".
Preceded by President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Costa Rica
2018-
Succeeded by