The Puerto Rico Senate approved a bill to restructure the judiciary, despite opposition from minority parties who claim it's a 'democratic dismantling'. The bill, which passed with 18 votes in favor and 7 against, aims to resolve a historical debate on court administration. Senator José A.
Santiago of the Partido Popular Democrático argued that the bill crosses the line between legitimate regulation and constitutional usurpation. The bill's author, Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, denied that it aims to strip the Supreme Court president of powers. The bill will now be considered by the House of Representatives in the next session in August.
An amendment was also approved, reverting a previous change and maintaining the seven-year minimum requirement for certain judicial positions.