Miguel Angel Galvez: The Honorable Judge

Guatemala has undergone several significant changes with regards to its criminal justice system these last few years. One of the most important changes is the establishment of high risk courts to handle sensitive cases. While many of us know some of the details of Yasmin Barrios' background and most significant cases, Sonia Perez of the AP takes a look at another judge, Miguel Angel Galvez.

In 16 years on the bench, Galvez has heard cases involving drug trafficking, murder, corruption and massacres of indigenous people during Guatemala's 1960-96 civil war. He was the judge who ordered detention for former dictator Efrain Rios Montt, who faces a genocide trial in January, a move that attracted death threats, judicial complaints against him and bribery attempts.

"Justice (in Guatemala) has advanced. Today there is more prestige, better investigation," Galvez said. "I have faith that with all these cases the institutions are going to improve, because society is finally getting involved."

Unfortunately, it appears that Judge Miguel Angel Galvez's effectiveness has not sat well with a Congress disinterested in promoting the rule of law.

"They are not interested in judges like Miguel Angel Galvez," constitutional lawyer Alejandro Balsells said. "You can't say that there is a frontal attack on corruption just because there are some people behind bars. That will happen when the honest judge is respected and is able to rise and take on high positions."