Fisher Case Suspension: Lawyer Warns of Legal Risks

Basilio González stated that the suspension of the Fisher case to allow Judge Baloisa Marquínez to handle the Odebrecht trial is legal only if it remains within the legal deadlines. He warned that an improper extension could lead to nullities. González also noted that the judge cannot handle both cases simultaneously, as it is legally unviable. According to him, the judge cannot be replaced by another judge, as she was appointed by the Supreme Court Plenum for specific cases. González emphasized that a process cannot be suspended for more than 10 days, especially when there are detained persons, whose cases take precedence over others. He explained that the suspension of a hearing must be requested by one of the parties — the Public Prosecutor's Office or the defense of the accused — and cannot exceed 10 days. If these rules are violated, the entire process could be declared void, putting at risk the detention of individuals prosecuted for drug trafficking. González specified that in the Odebrecht case, this was the last opportunity for suspension, as the hearing was postponed in November 2025 at the request of the defense due to the absence of prosecution witnesses. 'She cannot handle two trials at the same time,' he concluded.