Santo Domingo. – The president of the
Supreme Court of Justice, Henry Molina, reaffirmed his commitment to the transformation of the Dominican judicial system, proposing a vision centered on comprehensive digitalization and the strengthening of agreements as key tools to reduce judicial backlog.
Molina, who also heads the
Judicial Council, stated that judicial processes should not extend beyond six months per instance, as conceived in the
Criminal Procedure Code. To achieve this, he proposed the creation of a technical office prior to the trial, in charge of preparing files and facilitating negotiations in the preliminary hearing, thus strengthening agreements.
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In that same order, he suggested that single-judge courts handle a greater caseload, adapting better to less complex crimes. He also advocated for establishing the "cassation interest" in the Supreme Court of Justice, in order to avoid the accumulation of files and allow for a more systematic jurisprudence.
Digital justice, virtual hearings and zero paper
Molina highlighted that digitalization must be transversal, connecting all actors in the system, from the National Police to the courts. "There is no reason why today it is not notified or processed electronically," he stated, pointing out that the Judiciary already has the technology and five years of progress in this area.
Similarly, he proposed that non-essential hearings, such as preliminary or agreement hearings, be held digitally, while substantive hearings would undergo a more gradual transition.
One of the most significant achievements of his management has been the reduction of judicial delays in the Supreme Court. Thanks to digital management, the electronic signature, and the elimination of paper in courts such as the Criminal Court, 81% of the cases are resolved in less than three months.
Challenges and Structural Reforms
Despite progress in the appellate courts, Molina acknowledged that the trial courts in areas such as Santo Domingo, Santiago, and the National District still face delays, with resolution rates below 80%.
He also warned that traditional judicial practices should disappear, despite the resistance that this may generate, and supported the position of the prosecutor Yeni Berenice Reynoso in that mental health or drug use cases should not be brought to court.
Finally, he highlighted the importance of scientific and rigorous investigation in the merits of the cases, and positively valued the inter-institutional coordination process which, according to public defender Rodolfo Valentín, is laying the foundations for a more transparent and efficient justice system at the service of the citizenry.
Spanish
