Spanish
La Vega. – With the purpose of highlighting the transformative work of one of the most influential figures in the Dominican judicial system, the Cooperativa Vega Real launched the first edition of its institutional magazine Huella Real, dedicated to magistrate Arelis Ricourt, who for 27 years has presided over the Civil and Commercial Chamber of the Court of Appeals of that province, positioning herself as a national benchmark in innovation, transparency and modernization of the courts.
The publication acknowledges the legacy of a woman who, with more than three decades of public service, has driven some of the most momentous technological advances in the Judiciary. Ricourt has been a judge for over 36 years and is the magistrate who has led an appeals court for the longest time in Dominican judicial history.
The magazine highlights Ricourt's contributions to the digitalization process of the Judiciary, including the holding of the country's first virtual hearing; the implementation of the "Zero Paper" model, which eliminated physical files and digitized document management; the simultaneous interconnection of 79 courts; and the conversion of La Vega into a pilot jurisdiction for the case management system that now operates nationwide.
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In addition to its technological contribution, Huella Real highlights Ricourt's defense of judicial transparency as a foundation of democratic legitimacy. The magistrate has reiterated that public hearings, clear reasoning for decisions, and accountability are essential pillars for strengthening citizens' trust in the justice system. Dr. Jorge Subero Isa, former president of the Supreme Court of Justice, expressed the following in an article in the magazine: "From 1998 to date, Magistrate Ricourt has been President Judge of the Civil and Commercial Chamber of the Court of Appeals of La Vega. This permanence in a position of high responsibility for more than 25 years speaks, without exaggeration, of her technical capacity, her balanced judgment, her independence of judgment and the continued trust she has earned from the system. In a judicial world marked by the challenges of change, few figures offer such a coherent, firm and respected profile as hers.Upon receiving the recognition, Judge Ricourt expressed words that summarize the spirit of her career: “I receive this tribute with deep gratitude and above all with a great sense of responsibility. Because when a public life is recognized, the true message is not the trajectory, but the renewed commitment that it implies with justice, with institutionalism and with the nation”.
He assured that: "Every decision, every training provided, every project promoted has had only one compass, to strengthen citizens' trust in the Rule of Law. Today, upon receiving this public recognition, I want to reiterate what I have maintained throughout my professional life. Justice is only possible when human dignity is the center and when those who serve do so with balance, temperance, and non-negotiable ethical commitment." Ricourt holds a law degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), and has a postgraduate degree in Civil Procedure and a master's degree in Law of Obligations. Her career as a public servant began in 1989 as an assistant lawyer for the Fiscal Procurator's Office of the Judicial District of La Vega. She then headed that prosecutor's office. Subsequently, the Senate of the Republic appointed her judge of the Second Criminal Chamber of La Vega and, after the division of the Court into chambers, she became the first substitute for the Presidency of the Civil, Commercial and Labor Chamber, a position from which, after the evaluation of the Supreme Court in 1998, she was appointed president of said Chamber, a position she holds to this day. The magazine presentation took place in the auditorium of the Central Office of the Vega Real Cooperative and brought together journalists, collaborators from the Judiciary and special guests. The event began with an invocation by Father César Miguel Peralta, followed by the words of motivation and presentation by the executive president of Vega Real, Yanio Concepción. The profile of the honoree was presented by magistrate Bárbara Mónica Batista Batle, who highlighted Ricourt's contributions to judicial transformation.
