Manuel José García-Mansilla Sworn in as Justice of Argentina’s Supreme Court

Manuel José García-Mansilla was sworn in as a Justice of Argentina’s Supreme Court under President Javier Milei’s Decree 137/2025. This appointment restores the court to four justices following Juan Carlos Maqueda’s retirement. The court will hold a meeting on March 6 to consider Ariel Lijo’s request for leave amid ongoing controversies surrounding judicial appointments.

On Thursday, Manuel José García-Mansilla was officially sworn in as the newest Justice of Argentina’s Supreme Court (CSJN) following President Javier Milei’s Decree 137/2025. The inauguration ceremony was attended by key judicial figures including Chief Justice Horacio Rosatti, Deputy Chief Justice Carlos Rosenkrantz, and Justice Ricardo Lorenzetti. With García-Mansilla’s appointment, the CSJN’s membership has been restored to four justices after the retirement of Juan Carlos Maqueda in December.

The CSJN is scheduled to convene on March 6 to address an extraordinary leave request submitted by Justice Ariel Lijo, who was also appointed by Milei. Lijo, formerly the head of Buenos Aires Federal Court 4, seeks permission to return to his previous post should his Supreme Court appointment not receive Senate confirmation, which has led him to refrain from resigning his previous position.

García-Mansilla is expected to attend the upcoming Legislature Opening ceremony, where President Milei will deliver a lengthy speech. However, the aspiration to have a complete five-member Supreme Court by that occasion will not be realized, as Lijo’s leave request adds to the ongoing controversy surrounding the recent judicial appointments.

The decree signed by President Milei and Justice Minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona stipulates that both García-Mansilla and Lijo are appointed “in commission” according to article 99, paragraph 19 of the National Constitution. Their appointments will remain valid until November 30.

García-Mansilla’s swearing-in reestablishes membership in the CSJN, yet the controversy over Lijo’s extraordinary leave request continues to unfold. This situation raises questions about the constitutional legitimacy of appointments made by decree and their implications for the Argentine judiciary. The forthcoming legislative speech by President Milei may further illuminate the government’s stance on these developments.

Original Source: en.mercopress.com