Gerald Campos Valverde, Costa Rica's Minister of Justice and Peace, has been officially removed from his position following a decision by the Corte Suprema de Justicia not to extend his current permit.

Campos has been serving as minister since the start of Rodrigo Chaves' administration, while also maintaining a role as subdirector of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), a position that necessitated a special permission to avoid losing his job while serving in the cabinet.

Since May 2022, Campos had been granted a permit without pay that allowed him to retain his position in the OIJ while serving as Minister of Justice.

However, his recent request for an extension until May 8, 2026, was denied in a vote that resulted in 12 magistrates voting in favor of the extension while 10 opposed it.

According to Costa Rican law, a minimum of 17 votes is required to grant such extensions.

This marks the second time that Campos' request for an extension has been denied; a similar attempt in March 2023 was also met with resistance, although an appeal led to a reversal of the decision a month later.

The current rejection comes amidst ongoing legal proceedings against Campos regarding several alleged offenses, including embezzlement, ideological falsehood, and illegal recognition of labor benefits.

Campos has stated that the alleged offenses occurred prior to his appointment as minister, and he expressed willingness to renounce his immunity should the matter go to trial.

The lack of support from a majority of magistrates stems from concerns that Campos' refusal to resign from his immunity status is detrimental to judicial independence and may politicize the judiciary.

Several magistrates explicitly indicated their dissatisfaction with Campos' decision to maintain his immunity.

Iris Rojas Morales, one of the dissenting magistrates, articulated that while she had typically supported such permissions, the circumstances surrounding Campos’ case warranted a different approach due to his broken promise to submit to judicial processes.

The implications of this decision leave Campos with limited options moving forward, namely to either resign from the ministerial position and return to the OIJ, thereby losing his immunity, or to remain minister while pending investigations proceed under the prosecution of the General Attorney, Carlo Díaz, potentially paving the way for parliamentary action to lift his immunity.

In a separate incident, the OIJ arrested a 15-year-old boy on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and threats.

The arrest occurred on March 31, 2025, during a series of raids in the La Carpio area of San José.

The minor is accused of participating in an attempted robbery in October 2024, among other violent encounters.

He was apprehended alongside the seizure of a weapon and ammunition, with his case now referred to the Public Ministry.

Additionally, concert producer Don Stockwell is set to face trial related to a fraud case involving businessman Adrián Goldgewich.

The dispute arose over financial transfers made for the sponsorship of a concert by the band AC/DC in 2018, with Goldgewich claiming he paid Stockwell substantial sums under the expectation of financial returns that were never realized.

Following a recent pre-trial hearing, sufficient evidence was found for the case to move forward in the judicial system.

Goldgewich is seeking a civil remedy in the amount of $175,000 amidst claims of deceit and loss.

Finally, the Tribunal de Arbitraje Deportivo (TAS) has announced an upcoming hearing regarding a legal dispute involving Liga Deportiva Alajuelense against FIFA, León, and Pachuca related to the Mundial de Clubes.

The dispute centers on allegations that the FIFA's actions violated its own regulations regarding team ownership ahead of the tournament scheduled for June 2025. The hearing is set for April 23 in Madrid, and its outcome could influence future participation in global competitions.