Panamanian Lawyers Accuse La Prensa of Leaking Judicial Decisions

Criminal defense attorney Guillermina McDonald stated that the leaking of judicial decisions before notification to the parties is not a new issue. She mentioned that lawyers in Panama have been complaining for years about the way the newspaper La Prensa handles information, publishing decisions from the Public Ministry and court rulings before the lawyers themselves were officially informed. McDonald emphasized that these practices cannot be considered investigative journalism. She pointed out that if a person not involved in a case gains access to information before the parties, it is a delicate matter that must be investigated, as no outsider has the right to such information in advance. Attorney Basilio González, in turn, criticized the impact these accusations have had on the country's image. He rejected the notion that Panama can be represented by a single person or specific groups. González stated that Panama, on the contrary, has been an inspiration to many and urged viewing the situation as an opportunity to rescue justice and correct practices that have tarnished its image. Both lawyers agreed that the allegations must be investigated immediately, as they are not just journalistic publications but public accusations naming individuals. They stressed that it is up to the Public Ministry to investigate potential crimes and for the Judicial Branch to determine if the facts constitute criminal liability. Earlier, attorney Karisma Karamañites' statements about alleged leaks of judicial decisions have once again put the transparency of Panama's justice system at the center of the debate, particularly regarding the claim that the former director of La Prensa, Annette Planells, may have known about rulings before they were formally notified to the involved parties.