Joel Leonardo, who was speaking at a session marking the first year since the judge of guarantees took office in the country, called for "speed" in locating cases, in presenting prisoners to court and in analyzing the "alleged evasion" of files in court offices.
"We therefore appeal to the high sense of responsibility of the guarantee judge and the employees linked to these files. In fact, there are those who say that the support units for guarantee judges constitute authentic emergency benches, in which the spirit of dedication, commitment and patriotism", he said.
According to the judicial magistrate, almost 20 thousand cases have already been dealt with by guarantee judges, noting that most people are now aware of the existence of this "independent and impartial" figure, who aims to protect their fundamental rights.
At least 158 guarantee judges took office in the country on May 2, 2023, aiming to defend the fundamental rights of citizens, deciding on issues such as preventive or house arrest.
A year later, Joel Leonardo, also president of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, highlighted the importance of this figure in safeguarding the fundamental rights of citizens, recognizing, however, constraints in the course of his actions.
Problems with transportation, mobility of detainees, spaces for hearings and postponements due to generator or computer failure highlight the difficulties faced by judges which, in their opinion, were "expectable" given the country's reality.
The person responsible considered, however, that the aforementioned constraints "do not stand up to the advantages".
The balance "is therefore, in all respects, quite positive, although we humbly recognize the inevitable constraints encountered throughout this first year, typical of a complex and unprecedented process", pointed out Joel Leonardo.
