Colombia’s Supreme Court will hold a Special Chamber Monday to select a new Prosecutor General.
Speaking with Caracol Radio, Supreme Court Leader Javier Zapata said, “the Court should be active so a new Prosecutor General can be named as soon as possible.”
According to Colombian law a Prosecutor General must be voted in by a minimum of 16 Supreme Court Justices out of the total 23. At the moment there are only 22 Justices. Zapata said the Court would make sure enough magistrates voted to achieve the 16 vote minimum.
Last month former Prosecutor General Vivian Morales left office when it was discovered she had been elected by 14 Supreme Court Justices.
Last Monday the Supreme Court met and determined that the Prosecutor General’s time in office is tied to the President’s time in office and not a four year term. Therefore the next Prosecutor General will leave office 31 July 2013 if current Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos fails to win reelection.