UN experts condemn mass revocation of lawyer credentials in Nicaragua

The UN Independent Group of Experts on Nicaragua has denounced the systematic revocation of lawyer credentials by the Nicaraguan government, calling it a "grave blow" to human rights and access to justice. At least 2,000 lawyers have been removed from the Supreme Court registry without prior notice or explanation, leaving many unable to practice and citizens without legal defense Source: infobae.

Background

The purge is part of a broader crackdown on the judiciary that began in October 2023, when police took control of the Supreme Court. Eight magistrates were forced out, and over 1,000 judicial employees were dismissed. A 2025 constitutional reform eliminated judicial independence, redefining the judiciary as an "organ" coordinated by the presidency and reducing the number of magistrates from 16 to 10, all appointed by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo Source: diariolibree.

Impact on Lawyers and Citizens

Affected lawyers discovered their removal when they tried to enter courthouses or search the online registry. The UN experts noted that many had no prior notification or legal basis. Those targeted include former magistrates, exiled lawyers, former Sandinista members, and others without clear political affiliation Source: infobae. The measure "has eliminated from one day to the next an essential part of the legal profession and has deprived the population of their right to defense," the experts said Source: diariolibree.

Previous abuses include the arbitrary suspension of at least 28 lawyers in 2023 and the denial of notarial license renewals. Reed Brody, a member of the expert group, stated: "This silent purge of the legal profession is one more nail in the coffin of judicial independence in Nicaragua: first it was the judges; now it's the lawyers" Source: infobae.