Ricardo Lorenzetti
Encyclopedia
Ricardo Luis Lorenzetti (born 19 September 1955) is a member of the Supreme Court of Justice
of Argentina
. He was elected President of the high court by his peers on November 7, 2006.
Lorenzetti was born in Rafaela
, Santa Fe Province
, the son of a primary school teacher and a travelling salesman. He studied at the Faculty of Juridical and Social Sciences of the National University of the Littoral
, becoming a lawyer in 1978. At the time he counseled several labour unions. He obtained his doctorate
in 1983, specializing in private law
. Among his first interests was the civil liability of physicians in the exercise of their profession.
Besides his work as a lawyer during 26 years in his native city, he has taught in a number of law faculties around throughout the country. He has dictated hundreds of lectures and published more than 30 books in Argentina and abroad, as well as many articles in specialized publications.
Apoointed to the court by President
Néstor Kirchner
, and taking office on 12 December 2004, he filled the vacancy caused by the resignation of justice Adolfo Vázquez, and was the fourth Supreme Court justice to be appointed by President Kirchner since 2003. On 7 November 2006 he was appointed president of the Supreme Court by unanimous vote of his fellow justices, effective since 1 January 2007. His designation was approved by the Argentine Senate
with only one vote against, and two abstentions.
Lorenzetti has expressed his view that the Supreme Court should be reduced to seven members, which is the current number (there should be nine, but two seats have been left vacant), since "there must be a true division of powers, which means that the members of the Court should be a number that is independent from the appointments made by a single president."
A statement by UCR
figure and former Mar del Plata
Mayor Daniel Katz
in support of a potential spot for Lorenzetti as Julio Cobos
's running mate in the 2011 presidential election led to friction with the administration of President Cristina Kirchner, whose Cabinet Chief, Aníbal Fernández
, expressed disapproval at Lorenzetti's silence on the issue.
Supreme Court of Argentina
The Supreme Court of Argentina is the highest court of law of the Argentine Republic. It was inaugurated on 15 January 1863. However, during much of the 20th century, the Court and, in general, the Argentine judicial system, has lacked autonomy from the executive power...
of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. He was elected President of the high court by his peers on November 7, 2006.
Lorenzetti was born in Rafaela
Rafaela
Rafaela is a city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, about 96 km from the provincial capital. It is the head town of the Castellanos Department. It has a population of 99,150 per the ....
, Santa Fe Province
Santa Fe Province
The Invincible Province of Santa Fe, in Spanish Provincia Invencible de Santa Fe , is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Chaco , Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero...
, the son of a primary school teacher and a travelling salesman. He studied at the Faculty of Juridical and Social Sciences of the National University of the Littoral
National University of the Littoral
The National University of the Littoral is a university in Argentina. It is based in Santa Fe, the capital of the province of the same name, and it has colleges and other academic facilities in Esperanza, Reconquista and Gálvez, also in Santa Fe Province.-History:The original institution was...
, becoming a lawyer in 1978. At the time he counseled several labour unions. He obtained his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in 1983, specializing in private law
Private law
Private law is that part of a civil law legal system which is part of the jus commune that involves relationships between individuals, such as the law of contracts or torts, as it is called in the common law, and the law of obligations as it is called in civilian legal systems...
. Among his first interests was the civil liability of physicians in the exercise of their profession.
Besides his work as a lawyer during 26 years in his native city, he has taught in a number of law faculties around throughout the country. He has dictated hundreds of lectures and published more than 30 books in Argentina and abroad, as well as many articles in specialized publications.
Apoointed to the court by President
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Kirchner
Néstor Carlos Kirchner was an Argentine politician who served as the 54th President of Argentina from 25 May 2003 until 10 December 2007. Previously, he was Governor of Santa Cruz Province since 10 December 1991. He briefly served as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations ...
, and taking office on 12 December 2004, he filled the vacancy caused by the resignation of justice Adolfo Vázquez, and was the fourth Supreme Court justice to be appointed by President Kirchner since 2003. On 7 November 2006 he was appointed president of the Supreme Court by unanimous vote of his fellow justices, effective since 1 January 2007. His designation was approved by the Argentine Senate
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
with only one vote against, and two abstentions.
Lorenzetti has expressed his view that the Supreme Court should be reduced to seven members, which is the current number (there should be nine, but two seats have been left vacant), since "there must be a true division of powers, which means that the members of the Court should be a number that is independent from the appointments made by a single president."
A statement by UCR
UCR
UCR may refer to:* University of California, Riverside* Unified Cornish Revised, a variety of the Cornish language* Uniform Crime Reports* Under color removal* University of Costa Rica* Unión Cívica Radical, an Argentine political party...
figure and former Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
Mayor Daniel Katz
Daniel Katz
Daniel Katz was a psychologist, born in Trenton, New Jersey, USA. His academic career culminated at the University of Michigan though he was a professor at Princeton University's Department of Psychology for a time...
in support of a potential spot for Lorenzetti as Julio Cobos
Julio Cobos
Julio César Cleto Cobos is an Argentine politician, currently serving as the Vice President of Argentina alongside President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. He started his political career as member of the Radical Civic Union , becoming Governor of Mendoza in 2003...
's running mate in the 2011 presidential election led to friction with the administration of President Cristina Kirchner, whose Cabinet Chief, Aníbal Fernández
Aníbal Fernández
Aníbal Domingo Fernández is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician, who served as Interior Minister for President Néstor Kirchner, Minister of Justice for President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and is currently the President's Cabinet Chief.-Biography:Born in Quilmes, Buenos Aires Province,...
, expressed disapproval at Lorenzetti's silence on the issue.