Priest Cleared of Murder, is Judicial Reform in Sight?

Port-au-Prince, Haiti – Friday, the Reverend Gèrard Jean-Juste, the once presidential hopeful and later declared prisoner of conscience, was cleared of murder and kidnapping of the prominent Le Matin journalist, Jacque Roche but was indicted on two lesser counts of conspiracy and illegal weapons possession.

For the last six months US government officials, church and human rights organizations, and civil society have protested the priest’s detention. While the Interim Government of Haiti is unlikely to clear Jean Juste on what many believe to be trumped up charges, we are likely to see a large push by these same advocates to have Jean Juste be reprimanded with time served for those lesser crimes.

The Haitian judiciary saw major changes recently. After a power struggle with the executive branch, Prime Minister Latortue and President Alexandre removed five justices from the Supreme Court. That move was met with much criticism and led to a general strike by court employees last December.

While Jean-Juste’s fate is still uncertain, it is a positive sign that his case, and hopefully others, is moving forward.