A Landmark Decision
In a ruling that will resonate across Latin America, the Jurado de Enjuiciamiento de Magistrados (Jury for the Impeachment of Magistrates) of Argentina's Consejo de la Magistratura (Judicial Council) voted unanimously this Tuesday, August 18, 2026, to remove federal judge Alfredo Eugenio López from his post as head of the Federal Court No. 4 of Mar del Plata. The jury found him guilty of mal desempeño (misconduct) due to a series of antisemitic posts on his X account (formerly Twitter) @JuezLopezMDP.
The accusation, filed by national senator Luis Juez and lawyer Alberto Maques on behalf of the Judicial Council, was based on 15 messages (posts and reposts) published between September 2024 and July 2025. The jury determined that these were not isolated outbursts but a systematic pattern of hostility toward the Jewish community, Zionism, and the State of Israel.
The Posts That Sealed His Fate
During the oral hearings, the jury highlighted several of López's most incriminating statements:
- A poll asking “to whom are the Jews residing in our homeland loyal.”
- Calls for retweets against the “internal and external Jewry”.
- An invitation to respond to “these Pharisees”, referring to the Argentine Forum against Antisemitism.
- A reply to a user: “Well, Jew, it's Twitter, we have to abbreviate”.
- A photo of AMIA's Grand Rabbi, Eliahu Hamra, with a question about whether they will use the “Torah or the National Constitution” for the expansion of the Supreme Court.
According to the ruling, these expressions “incited symbolic violence, with the intention of subjugation and discrimination” and were not protected by freedom of expression. The jury applied the international Rabat Test (a standard for identifying hate speech) and concluded that López's remarks exceeded the bounds of legitimate opinion.
The Defense and the Aftermath
In his defense, López claimed he was the victim of “ideological persecution” and that his comments were on public matters, including the International Criminal Court's condemnation of Israeli leaders for “war crimes.” He stated, “Denouncing a genocide is not an act of hatred,” and noted his 40-year career without prior complaints.
His legal team tried to cite a favorable ruling for President Javier Milei in a similar case, but the jury rejected that argument. Although the first charge (misconduct in judicial duties) was dismissed, he was found guilty on the second charge: “serious disorders of conduct in his personal life” (Article 25, inc. V, Law 24.937). After the verdict, López angrily shouted at the tribunal, “Traitors to the homeland!”
Reactions and Significance
The removal was applauded by civil organizations and politicians. The DAIA (Delegation of Argentine Jewish Associations) called it “an event of enormous institutional relevance”, emphasizing that “no office can shield hatred.”
President Javier Milei reposted a statement from the Argentine Forum against Antisemitism (FACA) that read: “For the first time in Argentina's history, a federal judge is removed for antisemitic attacks.”
Congressman Waldo Wolff, who is close to the Jewish community, wrote: “In an exemplary and memorable ruling, the Judicial Council removed Alfredo López… the removal of a Nazi from the position of federal judge is a breath of fresh air.”
Councilor Alberto Maques, one of the accusers, said: “We are witnessing a historic event that will mark a before and after in Argentine justice.” He added that he feels no joy, because “people expect judges to be rewarded, not expelled.”
Jury Composition and Next Steps
The impeachment jury was composed of judges Marcelo Gastón Bartumeu Romero (Criminal Court No. 25, Buenos Aires) and Néstor Pablo Barral (Federal Chamber of San Martín); lawyer Ana Beatriz Fernández; deputies Nicolás Mayoraz (La Libertad Avanza) and Christian Zulli (Unión por la Patria); and senators María Belén Monte de Oca (LLA) and María Florencia López (UP).
The unanimous decision orders definitive removal and payment of court costs. The Judicial Council will now hold a contest to fill the vacancy at Federal Court No. 4 in Mar del Plata. The sentence was communicated to the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Justice, the Chamber of Cassation, and the Federal Chamber of Mar del Plata.
This case sets a crucial precedent: hate speech on social media can cost a judge their position, even without a criminal conviction. Argentine justice has sent a clear message about the boundaries of free expression when wielded from the bench.