Media Law: New judge designated, Council of Magistrates session fails

After Federal Judge Raúl Tettamanti -who had been designated as an interim judge to rule on claim by Grupo Clarín against article 161 of the Media Law- resigned, the National Appeals Court drew lots and designated magistrate Roberto Raún Torti.

That is the reason why members of the pro-government bloc at the Council of Magistrates decided not to participate at the judicial plenary scheduled for Thursday afternoon and failed to debate the designation of "natural" judges in five vacant courts.

According to attorney Eduardo Barcesat,the chamber headed by judges Martín Farrel and Ricardo Recondo, who had designated Tettamanti, appealed this morning to a "manuever" in the designations once more.

"The Appeals Chamber designated a new judge by the same method, which frustrates the judges designation method set by the National Constitution and applied by the Council of Magistrates," Barcesat assured after participating in an event to support the candidates presented by the pro-government officials for the five vacant courts.

The Council was scheduled to debate the designations that will determine the judge to rule on claim by Grupo Clarín against article 161 of the Media Law this afternoon, but it was the third time they failed to muster quorum.