2015 National Assembly urges civil society to apply to renew Supreme Court

Representatives of the 2015 National Assembly urged citizens to submit candidacies to sit on the Judicial Nominations Committee, which is responsible for vetting candidates for justices of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), according to the AlbertoNews portal.

This renewal process is part of the agreements reached at the negotiating table aimed at a political transition in the country, launched after the events of January, in an effort to transform Venezuela's justice system and make it more pluralistic.

The National Assembly recently amended the rules to expand from 11 to 12 the seats reserved for civil society members on the committee, who will work alongside 11 lawmakers to pre-select candidates, who will then be put to a final vote in the Assembly.

In-person applications are being received at the headquarters of the Preliminary Commission in Caracas, and the deadline is October 9, an essential requirement for moving toward a judiciary that overcomes questions about its institutional independence.