Romero_Trial_Transcript_8_25_04_53_2

8-25-04 Trial Transcript
23 THE COURT: Is your present place of practice of law
24 in San Salvador, in the country of El Salvador?
25 THE WITNESS: I am a Professor of Criminal Law, and I
RAMIREZ AMAYA - D
237
1 am -- also I'm an attorney for the indigent and for those lost
2 causes.
3 THE COURT: Since 1988 to the present, what
4 authority, if there is one, controls the District Attorney in
5 whatever jurisdiction the District Attorney operates, who
6 would be able to bring the criminal case for the assassination
7 of Archbishop Romero?
8 THE WITNESS: You are asking who is in charge of --
9 THE COURT: Who has the authority over the District
10 Attorney, over the public prosecutor?
11 THE WITNESS: Apparently, or in appearance, nobody
12 does. But we all know that it is the President of the
13 Republic.
14 THE COURT: To understand the basis for your answer,
15 the American law seeks what is called a "foundation" for your
16 answer. Are the public prosecutors appointed by the ruling
17 party?
18 THE WITNESS: At that time, yes, when the case of
19 Monseñor Romero. Now it is done by Congress.
20 THE COURT: Based on your knowledge, since 1988, and
21 your experience as a professor of law and as a lawyer and a
22 judge, a Magistrate Judge for the Supreme Court, is the
23 Congress independent in the sense that it can appoint a
24 prosecutor who will answer only to the cause of justice, not
25 to a partisan interest? The word we use is "independent."
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