In historic first, Argentine judge defrocked over antisemitic social media posts

An Argentine federal judge has become the first in the country’s history to be removed from office over antisemitic social media posts, according to a ruling by the nation’s Jury of Impeachment. Alfredo Eugenio López, head of Federal Court No. 4 in Mar del Plata, was stripped of his post on Tuesday after being found guilty of misconduct incompatible with his role as a judge. His removal followed a series of antisemitic remarks on social media, including calling the Jewish people “a brood of vipers,” referring to Israel as a “fictitious state,” and labeling Argentinian Jews as “foreigners.” He also used the terms “Zionist” and “gay” as insults. López’s actions were deemed to have violated the principles of impartiality and public trust essential to the judiciary. The Jury of Impeachment, a panel consisting of judges, lawmakers, and legal professionals, concluded that his behavior constituted discrimination and the denial of equal rights against the Jewish community. The panel emphasized that his conduct undermined public confidence in the fairness of the judicial system. The case originated from complaints filed by the Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas, the main representative body of Argentina’s Jewish community, in February 2025. One month later, the Argentine Forum Against Antisemitism also submitted a formal complaint. In July 2025, attorney Yamil Santoro of the Apolo Foundation joined with another charge. These filings led to the initiation of disciplinary proceedings before the Council of the Magistracy, the constitutional body tasked with overseeing the appointment and conduct of federal judges. During the impeachment process, López defended his statements, claiming they were “subjective and decontextualized interpretations of exchanges on social media” and did not impact his ability to administer justice impartially. He asserted that his remarks were unrelated to any ongoing cases and that he had never been recused or removed from any judicial proceeding. Neither López nor his legal representatives were available for further comment following the ruling. A jury member, Alberto Maques, criticized López’s conduct during a live interview on the A24 news channel. He stated that the judge’s posts included more than 50 instances of hate speech, many of which were so extreme they were not worth repeating. “This is not merely an issue of hate speech against the Jewish community. This is someone who lacks common sense,” Maques said. He added that the judge’s behavior was unacceptable for someone holding public office. Prosecutors in the impeachment proceedings argued that López’s posts were not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of hostility toward Jews, Zionism, and the State of Israel. They contended that no position of authority could justify such conduct, emphasizing that the case was about sanctioning repeated behavior incompatible with the integrity of the judiciary. DAIA issued a statement highlighting that this was the first time in over a century that the organization had taken action against a judge, underscoring its commitment to democratic values. The decision marks a significant moment in Argentina’s legal landscape, setting a precedent for holding public officials accountable for their online conduct. It reflects growing concerns about the intersection of free speech and ethical responsibility within the judiciary. The ruling is expected to influence future disciplinary actions against judges and other public figures accused of similar offenses.