Port-au-Prince, October 22, 2025.- Two weeks after the opening of the judicial year 2025-2026, the Technical Commission for Certification of the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) refused the certification of 12 magistrates for lack of moral integrity and referred 27 other cases for further investigation. Of the 73 certified magistrates, there are judges of the Courts of Appeal of Cayes and Cap-Haitien, as well as 16 judges of the Courts of First Instance (TPI). The decision highlights the structural weaknesses and fragility of the Haitian judicial system.
The CSPJ Technical Certification Commission released its September 2025 minutes, revealing that 12 judges do not meet the criteria of moral and professional integrity. These include judges and alternates of the courts of first instance and peace, including Frito Aristil (Cap-Haitien), Jean Mary Evens Bellabe (Camp-Perrin), Marc-Arthur Bien-Aimé (Gonaives) and others.
At the same time, 27 cases requiring further investigation remain pending, without explicitly appointing the judges concerned. The CSPJ points out that last March, a resolution allows uncertified judges to defend themselves before any exclusion, while the Act of 13 November 2007 on the creation of the CSPJ and the Act of 27 November 2007 on the status of the judiciary do not provide for any certification remedies.
This situation highlights the fragility of the Haitian judicial system, already faced with structural deficiencies and a deficit of public confidence. The grounds for non-certification have evolved since 2024: whereas previously they were serious acts such as ransoming, looting or collaboration with armed gangs, the 2025 minutes now point to problems of incompetence and lack of professional integrity.
Certified judges include:
Cour d'appel des Cayes : Yvon Dolciné Pierre and Jean Emmanuel Zéphyr ,
Court of Appeal of Cap-Haitien : Gracia Charles and Emania Belizaire Fatal ,
Courts of First Instance: 16 certified judges.
These decisions illustrate not only the fragility of the Haitian judicial system, but also the risk of institutional paralysis if outstanding cases are not dealt with quickly. Transparency, integrity and efficiency remain at the heart of the challenges to restore citizens' confidence in justice.
W.A.
