26833: Craig (news) Haiti sacks Supreme Court judges (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Dan Craig <sak-pase@bimini.ws>


Haiti sacks Supreme Court judges
By Claire Marshall
BBC News

Five Supreme Court justices have been fired in Haiti, a day after the court 
ruled that a Haitian-born US millionaire could run for president.

No reason was given for the sudden sacking of around half of the Supreme Court 
bench.

They were fired on the direct orders of the interim Prime Minister, Gerard 
Latortue, and his justice minister.

The government criticised the decision to allow Dumarsais Simeus to run in 
January's presidential elections.

Despite not yet being on the official ballot, Mr Simeus, who lives in Texas, 
was shown by the first independent opinion poll conducted to be one of the 
favourite contenders.

However because of his joint US-Haitian nationality, which is against the 
constitution, a presidential commission barred him from standing.

The Supreme Court's decision, which confirms an earlier ruling, goes directly 
against this, saying that he should be allowed to run.

Now the judges said to be responsible for this decision have been sent into 
early retirement.

One Haitian commentator told the BBC that it clearly appears to be a punishment 
of these justices.

In a country ravished by insecurity, less than a month before Haitians are due 
to elect their first leader since the ousting of former President Jean 
Bertrand-Aristide, this is an unwelcome further sign of serious political 
instability.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4515870.stm