Judge Sebastián Casanello has been appointed to assume the leadership of Federal Court 11 in Buenos Aires, through a traditional lottery procedure conducted at the Federal Chamber in the Argentine capital. This judicial seat is where the investigation into alleged irregularities in insurance contracts involving former President Alberto Fernández is taking place. Casanello will replace Judge Julián Ercolini, who was acting in that capacity. The appointment will take effect on February 12.
Casanello, who will continue to be in charge of Federal Court 7, has three business days to formally accept the new position for one year. The vacancy in Court 11 arose following the death of Judge Claudio Bonadio in February 2020. The court is located in the Comodoro Py 2002 building.
In an exclusive draw in which only three judges participated—Casanello, Ercolini, and Sebastián Ramos—the latter was appointed to lead the court. The other federal judges declined to participate for personal reasons or prior commitments with other interim positions. Currently, four federal courts in Comodoro Py 2002 are operating without their corresponding heads, including numbers 6, 9, 11, and 12.
Judge Eduardo Farah justified the need for the draw by citing Article 114 of the National Constitution and arguing the importance of appointing an interim judge while the competition No. 450 is ongoing before the Council of the Judiciary.
The investigation into alleged "fraudulent management" has recently advanced with the conduct of 39 investigative statements.
