Incluye bibliografía

Contenido: Introducción -- Structure of the federal, national, and provincial judicial systems -- Issues related to judicial independence -- Current situation in the courts -- Accountability -- Efficiency -- Access to justice -- Legal education, licensing, and training -- Civil society -- Conclusion -- Annex 1: Prioritized list of recommendations -- Annex 2: Comparison between the National/Federal Consejo and the Buenos Aires city's Consejo -- Annex 3: Civil society: nongovernmental organizations in Argentina -- Annex 4: Judicial councils.

A social assessment conducted in Argentina in August 1999 identified the current issues surrounding the justice system. First, as perceived by its citizens, the weak rule of law creates legal uncertainty. Furthermore, protection under the law is not granted adequately to the low-income sectors. Second, the political branches of government are perceived to influence courts and judges. The Judicial Council also seems to be affected; it has less legitimacy and a perceived weaker role as an impartial institution avoiding corruption and maintaining a fair selection process of judges. Third, the problems of the judiciary in Argentina were found to be structural and systematic, and not to be blamed on a single group. Last, there exists a gap between the justice system and the citizenry because of the lack of transparency and openness. This report provides an assessment of the administration of justice at the federal level in Argentina and key issues for its reform. It includes a description of the organization of Argentina ' s judicial system; the way courts work in practice, their infrastructure, provisions for court administration, and human resources. In addition, the report offers an overview of the regulation of different processes according to the procedural codes; alternative dispute resolution mechanisms (mediation/arbitration); and legal education, licensing, and continuing training of attorneys and judges, as well as access to justice, gender, and the role of civil society.