The APM Sounds the Alarm on 'the Collapse of the Haitian Judicial System'

PORT-AU-PRINCE.— On the occasion of the 2025-2026 judicial year opening, the Professional Association of Magistrates (APM) published an alarming statement on the critical situation of the Haitian judicial system. The organization denounces the continuous degradation of magistrates' working conditions and the widespread dysfunction of courts across the country, a direct consequence of insecurity and the lack of resources.

According to the APM, several courts, particularly in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and in some provincial cities, are currently unable to function regularly due to the control of armed gangs.

Some courts have had to close their doors, while others have been relocated to unsuitable, sometimes undignified, premises. 'Some courts of first instance operate with only one investigating judge,' warns the association, emphasizing that this situation severely compromises citizens' access to justice.

The professional organization also highlights the precarious working conditions in which magistrates operate. 'The courts are not equipped, the furniture is dilapidated, and magistrates do not have service vehicles,' laments the statement, signed by Marthel Jean Claude. This lack of material resources, combined with insufficient salaries, severely hinders the proper functioning of judicial institutions and the efficiency of the courts.

Given this alarming observation, the APM urges the executive authorities to adopt urgent measures to restore security around judicial infrastructures, rehabilitate vandalized buildings, and strengthen the protection of magistrates and judicial staff. The association also invites the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) to ensure that courts are equipped with adequate materials, vehicles, and logistical resources to guarantee more effective and better-distributed justice.

Despite this difficult climate, the APM wished to congratulate magistrates for their courage and resilience during the past judicial year, marked by serious security obstacles. The organization urges them to continue their mission with courage, rigor, and integrity, believing that it is essential for magistrates to continue working for quality justice that respects human rights.

In conclusion, the association renewed its wishes for a good 2025-2026 judicial year to all magistrates, judicial staff, and lawyers, while calling for national awareness to save this fundamental pillar of the Haitian rule of law.

Jean Mapou