Venezuela appoints 20 judges to top court

Venezuela yesterday appointed 20 magistrates to the country’s revamped Supreme Justice Tribunal after weeks of unexplained delays. The National Assembly, which is majority-controlled by President Nicolas Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela, approved a judicial reform in January that reduced the number of judges on the court from 32. Opposition politicians say the court is an extension of the government and UN investigators say Venezuela’s judicial system has breached people’s human rights as part of a state policy to quash opposition to Mr Maduro. The assembly says streamlining the court will quicken rulings and 10 magistrates chosen in 2015 will continue in their roles.