María Victoria Calle Correa
Encyclopedia
María Victoria Calle Correa (born 8 May 1959) is a Magistrate
of the Constitutional Court of Colombia
, serving since April 2009. Calle is the second female magistrate (after Clara Inés Vargas Hernández). A lawyer from the University of Medellín, she specialized in Administrative Law
from Saint Thomas Aquinas University
and the University of Salamanca
, and received a Master's in Administrative Law from Externado University. Prior to her nomination, she worked in Previsora Seguros S.A., and insurance provider, since 2004, and was its Vice President of Legal Affairs since 2005.
from a ternary submitted by President
Álvaro Uribe Vélez, receiving 76 of the votes over her fellow nominees, Zayda del Carmen Barrero de Noguera and José Fernando Torres. The nomination and subsequent election process, as well as that of her fellow magistrate Jorge Pretelt Chlajub which occurred at the same time, were criticised by Elección Visible, an election watchdog organization, for lack transparency and the clear existence of back-door deals that permitted their election to have been secured from the beginning, and thus ignoring the ternary nomination process in which three compelling candidates are nominated and the Senate elects the best option; in their respective cases, each ternary list was composed of the favourite candidate, and two lesser choices. This lack of seriousness in the process was coupled in the media with the perception that President Uribe broke tradition by nominating candidates who were neither constitutional scholars
, respected professors in academia, nor held a PhD
, this in marked contrast to their predecessors in the Court.
had defined conservative views, and because of her nomination and strong backing by the conservative leaning Administration of President Uribe.
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
of the Constitutional Court of Colombia
Constitutional Court of Colombia
The Constitutional Court of Colombia is the highest entity in the judicial branch of government in the Republic of Colombia in charge of safeguarding the integrity and supremacy of the Colombian Constitution of 1991 within the Constitutional laws.However it is not the highest court of criminal...
, serving since April 2009. Calle is the second female magistrate (after Clara Inés Vargas Hernández). A lawyer from the University of Medellín, she specialized in Administrative Law
Administrative law
Administrative law is the body of law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of government. Government agency action can include rulemaking, adjudication, or the enforcement of a specific regulatory agenda. Administrative law is considered a branch of public law...
from Saint Thomas Aquinas University
Saint Thomas Aquinas University
Saint Thomas University is a Roman Catholic university located in Bogotá, Colombia. It is the oldest Colombian university, founded in 1580 by the Dominican Order....
and the University of Salamanca
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
, and received a Master's in Administrative Law from Externado University. Prior to her nomination, she worked in Previsora Seguros S.A., and insurance provider, since 2004, and was its Vice President of Legal Affairs since 2005.
Nomination and election
She was elected to replace Magistrate Manuel José Cepeda Espinosa by the SenateSenate of Colombia
The Senate of the Republic of Colombia is the upper house of the Congress of Colombia, with the lower house being the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia...
from a ternary submitted by President
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
Álvaro Uribe Vélez, receiving 76 of the votes over her fellow nominees, Zayda del Carmen Barrero de Noguera and José Fernando Torres. The nomination and subsequent election process, as well as that of her fellow magistrate Jorge Pretelt Chlajub which occurred at the same time, were criticised by Elección Visible, an election watchdog organization, for lack transparency and the clear existence of back-door deals that permitted their election to have been secured from the beginning, and thus ignoring the ternary nomination process in which three compelling candidates are nominated and the Senate elects the best option; in their respective cases, each ternary list was composed of the favourite candidate, and two lesser choices. This lack of seriousness in the process was coupled in the media with the perception that President Uribe broke tradition by nominating candidates who were neither constitutional scholars
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
, respected professors in academia, nor held a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, this in marked contrast to their predecessors in the Court.
Magistrateship
Calle's views were unknown at the time of her nomination and was generally regarded as a conservative, as her husband, Gustavo Eduardo Gómez Aranguren, a Magistrate of the Council of StateCouncil of State of Colombia
The Council of State of ColombiaState Council- It is conformed by twenty-seven magistrates that exercise during eight years.- It regulates the conflicts between the matters and the State.Superior Council of Judicature...
had defined conservative views, and because of her nomination and strong backing by the conservative leaning Administration of President Uribe.