The Haitian judicial system continues its reform and modernization efforts through several initiatives aimed at strengthening the credibility of the judicial institution, reducing prolonged pretrial detention, and improving the efficiency of criminal case processing.
The Superior Council of the Judicial Power (CSPJ) made public, on June 5, 2026, the results of the review mechanism for certification files of magistrates who had not obtained their certification during previous evaluations, as stated on the institution’s Facebook page.
This process, undertaken in accordance with a resolution adopted on March 27, 2025, is part of a dynamic of transparency and building trust in the judge evaluation process, the statement reads.
According to figures released by the CSPJ, 68 requests were submitted under this exceptional procedure.
After analysis, 52 files were deemed admissible, while 15 were rejected for non-compliance with formal requirements.
Thirty-seven magistrates were summoned and heard individually, respecting the procedural guarantees provided by current standards.
Following deliberations, the Council decided to uphold 26 decisions of non-certification.
However, six initially rejected files were favorably reconsidered, allowing their holders to be declared certified and eligible to rejoin the judiciary.
Five other cases were referred back to the Technical Certification Commission for further investigation.
Through this decision, according to the communications unit, the CSPJ affirms its commitment to conducting the certification process with rigor, fairness, and impartiality, while guaranteeing respect for judicial independence and the principles governing the exercise of the judiciary in Haiti.
Alongside these institutional efforts, several jurisdictions across the country have intensified their activities to reduce case backlogs and combat prolonged pretrial detention, a recurring problem in the Haitian penal system.
In Petit-Goâve, the Court of First Instance organized, from March 9 to 31, 2026, a significant session of criminal assizes without jury assistance.
Under the direction of Magistrate Fritzner Duclair, Dean of the court, thirty-two criminal trials were heard during this period.
The outcomes of these hearings demonstrate sustained judicial activity. Seven people were acquitted and released, while twenty-three others were sentenced to prison terms varying according to the severity of the charges against them.
Among the sentences handed down were notably seven terms of seven years’ imprisonment, five terms of five years’ imprisonment, two sentences of two years in prison, two one-year sentences, and two sentences of eight years’ imprisonment.
Judicial authorities consider these assizes as an important step in efforts to decongest prisons and guarantee litigants the right to be tried within a reasonable time. They intend to regularly continue such initiatives to strengthen public confidence in the administration of justice.
In the Southeast Department, the Court of First Instance of Jacmel also conducted a series of criminal assizes without jury assistance between April 7 and April 29, 2026. Eight cases were on the docket for these hearings, of which five resulted in convictions and three were referred for further investigation or additional inquiry.
Among the decisions rendered, Jean Pierre Joël was sentenced to five years of hard labor for nighttime theft and criminal conspiracy in a case dating back to 2019.
Étienne Chrisnord received four and a half years of imprisonment for the rape of a minor, while Frito Henry was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for attempted murder.
The court also sentenced Noël Edner, known by the nickname “Louibon,” to eight years of criminal imprisonment for murder and motorcycle theft.
Jules Salomon, for his part, received a four-year prison sentence for criminal conspiracy.
Some cases, however, were postponed to allow for further investigations or the submission of new evidence, particularly in cases involving charges of rape of a minor, drug trafficking, or illegal weapons possession.
According to the CSPJ, these various initiatives reflect the judicial authorities’ desire to strengthen court operations, accelerate criminal case processing, and ensure more effective justice.
By Marie Farah Fortuné and Darbouze Figaro
