Colombia’s Supreme Court Defends Judicial Independence Amid Backlash Over Uribe Conviction
The text reads, “Alvaro Uribe guilty”. X/ @laopinion_col
July 31, 2025 Hour: 11:47 am
The far-right politician was found guilty of bribery in criminal proceedings and procedural fraud.
On Thursday, Colombia’s Supreme Court defended judicial independence following criticism of Judge Sandra Heredia, who sentenced former President Alvaro Uribe for bribery in criminal proceedings and procedural fraud.
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“Given the relevance and public interest surrounding the matters currently being resolved by judicial authorities in the country, the Supreme Court firmly rejects any undue interference and statements suggesting that judges’ decisions are not in line with the legal framework,” the court said in a statement.
On Monday, Uribe, a 73-year-old far-right politician, became the first former Colombian president to be criminally convicted. He was found guilty—at the trial court level—of bribery in criminal proceedings and procedural fraud, although he was acquitted of simple bribery.
As one of the most influential political figures in Colombia’s recent history—or, in Heredia’s words, “the most powerful man” in the country—the unprecedented conviction sparked a wave of reactions, including support for the ruling and expressions of solidarity with the former president.
The text reads, “All of Colombia will react this way as soon as Alvaro Uribe Velez is convicted.” Inside the video, the text reads, “What television doesn’t show.”
“Criticism of judicial decisions not only undermines the credibility and public trust in the justice system but can also put at risk the lives and safety of the judges and magistrates tasked with resolving such cases… Parties in a case may always express their disagreements through the legal channels and mechanisms available to challenge rulings that go against their interests,” the Supreme Court said.
It also issued a “firm call to political and opinion leaders, and to society at large, to weigh their words carefully, and to those directly involved in the cases to express their disagreements within the framework of due process, while respecting judicial independence and autonomy.”
Amid the public debate, President Gustavo Petro thanked the court “for defending the independence of justice” in Colombia.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
