Overview

• Pacheco sought unpaid leave until March 2, 2026, filing the request on September 2, one day after taking the oath as a district criminal judge.
• The commission concluded there was no justified cause for the seven‑month absence because she had sufficient time to complete the handover of her customs duties.
• The ruling was sent to the Senate’s leadership, and the Pleno will make the final decision on whether to grant the license.
• Senators from multiple parties criticized the timing and rationale, with some urging notification of the Órgano de Administración Judicial and the Órgano/Tribunal de Disciplina Judicial.
• Pacheco was assigned to a specialized unit handling arraigo and communications interception matters, a sensitive post that heightened lawmakers’ concerns over impartiality and role compatibility.