Judges express "deep concern" over the 8% reduction in the Federal Justice budget for next year

The members of the Board of Presidents of the Federal Courts with criminal jurisdiction in Argentina expressed their “deep concern” this Friday regarding the proposed 2026 National Budget Law for the Judiciary, which reduces the overall budget for the Justice system by 8% and the budget for Capital Goods by 74% . This budget covers approximately 22,000 salaries across the national and federal courts throughout the country.

For his part, the head of the Union of Judicial Employees of the Nation (UPJN), Julio Piumato, sent a letter to the head of the Chamber of Deputies, Martín Menem, with the same concern.

The board was chaired by Judge Javier Leal Ibarra, and the statement was issued after a meeting held in Comodoro Rivadavia. The assets allocated for capital goods, since there are no major construction projects underway, include computer purchases and building maintenance.

In a statement, these judges warned that "if this provision is maintained, it would seriously affect the normal functioning of the courts and, with it, the independence of the Judiciary, an essential pillar of the Rule of Law and a guarantee of the fundamental rights of citizens."

The statement comes after this week, “for the second time and in response to repeated demands from prosecutors, the Minister of Justice of the Nation, Mariano Cúneo Libarona, once again postponed the implementation of the new Criminal Procedure Code in Comodoro Py.

It was decided to set a new date: it will be April 20, 2026, and not November 10.

“Sufficient budgeting and judicial financial autonomy are indispensable conditions to ensure its effective independence,” they added.

The judges emphasized that “constitutional order and the rule of law must prevail over economic circumstances. Insufficient allocations lead to inadequate infrastructure, declining salaries, and increasingly restricted access to justice.”

Furthermore, “the modernization and full implementation of the federal criminal procedure system require adequate resources. The 74% reduction in Capital Goods would prevent the continuation of construction projects, building maintenance, and technological upgrades, all essential to guaranteeing an efficient and modern justice system.”

Therefore, “we reaffirm our commitment to defending judicial independence and urge that the budget of the Judiciary be reviewed and adjusted to its real needs, in order to safeguard republican balance, the full validity of the National Constitution and the right of all citizens to an independent, efficient and accessible justice system,” they concluded in the statement.

The statement was also signed by:

National Chamber of Appeals in Commercial Matters - President, Pablo Heredia.

-National Labor Appeals Court - President, Gabriela Vázquez.

-National Civil Appeals Court - President, Roberto Parrilli.

-National Chamber of Appeals in Criminal and Correctional Matters - President, Mario Alberto Scotto.

-Federal Chamber of Appeals for Social Security - President, Sebastián Russo.

-Federal Criminal Court of Cassation - Vice President, Daniel Petrone.

-National Chamber of Cassation in Criminal and Correctional Matters of the Federal Capital - President, Horacio Dias.

-National Chamber of Appeals in Economic Criminal Matters - President, Carolina Robiglio.

-National Chamber of Appeals in Civil and Commercial Federal Matters - President, Eduardo Gottardi.

-National Chamber of Appeals in Federal Administrative Litigation - President, Jorge Morán.

-National Chamber of Appeals in Federal Criminal and Correctional Matters - President, Pablo Bertuzzi.

-Federal Court of Appeals of Bahía Blanca - President, Leandro Picado.

-Federal Court of Appeals of Comodoro Rivadavia - President, Javier M. Leal de Ibarra.

-Federal Court of Appeals of Córdoba - President, Abel Sánchez Torres.

-Federal Court of Appeals of Corrientes - President, Mirta Sotelo de Andreau.

-Federal Court of Appeals of General Roca - President, Mariano Lozano.

-Federal Court of Appeals of La Plata - President, César Álvarez.

-Federal Court of Appeals of Mar del Plata - Bernardo Bibel.

-Federal Court of Appeals of Mendoza - President, Gustavo Castiñeira de Dios.

-Federal Court of Appeals of Paraná - Vice President, Beatriz Estela Aranguren.

-Federal Court of Appeals of Posadas - President, Mirta Tyden de Skanata.

-Federal Court of Appeals of Resistencia - President, Rocío Alcalá.

-Federal Court of Appeals of Rosario - President, Silvina Andalaf Casiello.

-Federal Court of Appeals of Salta - President, Luis Rabbi-Baldi Cabanillas.

-Federal Court of Appeals of San Martín - President, Marcos Morán.

-Federal Court of Appeals of Tucumán - President, Marina Cossio.