Yesterday, on June 19, 2025, lawyer Juan Carlos Espín Álvarez was sworn in as the new president of the Judicial Penal Circuit of Barinas state, succeeding former prosecutor Francisco Traspuesto.
The appointment was conducted via videoconference under the supervision of Supreme Tribunal of Justice president, Caryslia Beatriz Rodríguez. This decision has sparked interest given Espín’s extensive background and the recent judicial climate in the region.
Espín Álvarez is a seasoned penal judge with over twenty years of experience in the judicial system. Prior to his new role in Barinas, he served as president of the Penal Circuit in Sucre state, a position he held since April 2020. His considerable experience is viewed by many as a critical factor in tackling the challenges posed within the Barinas penal jurisdiction.
During the swearing-in ceremony, four penal judges also assumed their roles from the Puerto Cabello extension in Carabobo state.
The change in the highest judicial authority of the penal jurisdiction in Barinas comes just three days after a controversial case that has shaken the region. A control court decreed the deprivation of liberty for nearly 30 peasants, who, according to reports, were kidnapped by paramilitaries working for a local landowner. Despite these serious irregularities, the peasants were brought before the penal jurisdiction by a unit of the National Guard, with no judicial body intervening to investigate the reported anomalies.
Espín Álvarez’s arrival at the Judicial Penal Circuit of Barinas occurs at a sensitive time, with everyone watching how his leadership will impact transparency and the administration of justice in high-profile cases riddled with alleged irregularities.