Carlos Fayt
Encyclopedia
Carlos Santiago Fayt is an Argentine lawyer, politician, academic and a member of Supreme Court of Justice of Argentina since 1983.
Fayt was born in Salta but at a young age moved to Buenos Aires
. He graduated as a lawyer in 1941 from the University of Buenos Aires
(UBA). He played an active role in trade union life, heading the Buenos Aires Lawyers' Association 1963-1965, and had an extensive academic career. Fayt taught at UBA and at the National University of La Plata, specialising in political law. He is now Emeritus Professor at UBA and teaches at Belgrano University.
He was also an active socialist and stood to be governor of Salta Province
in 1958. A supporter of Nicolás Repetto
and Alfredo Palacios
, he later became part of the faction of Carlos Sánchez Viamonte. After splits in the Socialist Party
, however, he dedicated himself to civic and academic life. Three of his 35 books are on the subject of Peronism
.
Fayt was appointed to the Supreme Court by the new democratic government of President Raúl Alfonsín
in 1983, despite never having served as a judge. In the 1990s, when President Carlos Menem
had increased the size of the Court and appointed several sympathetic Justices, Fayt was one of those who generally opposed the majority view. Fayt is the longest serving Supreme Court Justice in Argentina ever. He had previously been approached by President Arturo Illia in the 1960s to join the Supreme Court, but had turned the role down on that occasion. From July 2003 he presided over the court for some months.
Fayt was born in Salta but at a young age moved to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. He graduated as a lawyer in 1941 from the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
(UBA). He played an active role in trade union life, heading the Buenos Aires Lawyers' Association 1963-1965, and had an extensive academic career. Fayt taught at UBA and at the National University of La Plata, specialising in political law. He is now Emeritus Professor at UBA and teaches at Belgrano University.
He was also an active socialist and stood to be governor of Salta Province
Salta Province
Salta is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the east clockwise Formosa, Chaco, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán and Catamarca. It also surrounds Jujuy...
in 1958. A supporter of Nicolás Repetto
Nicolás Repetto
Nicolás Repetto was an Argentine physician and leader of the Socialist Party of Argentina.-Biography:Nicolás Repetto was born in Buenos Aires in 1871 and enrolled at the prestigious Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires, a public college preparatory school. He was introduced to politics by a friend and...
and Alfredo Palacios
Alfredo Palacios
Alfredo Lorenzo Palacios was an Argentine socialist politician.Palacios was born in Buenos Aires, and studied law at Universidad de Buenos Aires, after graduation he became a lawyer and taught at the university until becoming a dean.In 1902, he was elected to the Buenos Aires' legislature, and in...
, he later became part of the faction of Carlos Sánchez Viamonte. After splits in the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Argentina)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in Argentina. The history of socialism in Argentina began in the 1890s, when a group of people, notably Juan B. Justo, expressed the need for a greater social focus....
, however, he dedicated himself to civic and academic life. Three of his 35 books are on the subject of Peronism
Peronism
Peronism , or Justicialism , is an Argentine political movement based on the programmes associated with former President Juan Perón and his second wife, Eva Perón...
.
Fayt was appointed to the Supreme Court by the new democratic government of President Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín was an Argentine lawyer, politician and statesman, who served as the President of Argentina from December 10, 1983, to July 8, 1989. Alfonsín was the first democratically-elected president of Argentina following the military government known as the National Reorganization...
in 1983, despite never having served as a judge. In the 1990s, when President Carlos Menem
Carlos Menem
Carlos Saúl Menem is an Argentine politician who was President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. He is currently an Argentine National Senator for La Rioja Province.-Early life:...
had increased the size of the Court and appointed several sympathetic Justices, Fayt was one of those who generally opposed the majority view. Fayt is the longest serving Supreme Court Justice in Argentina ever. He had previously been approached by President Arturo Illia in the 1960s to join the Supreme Court, but had turned the role down on that occasion. From July 2003 he presided over the court for some months.