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For the first time in its history, Costa Rica's three branches of government are simultaneously led by women. This milestone was reached on Monday when magistrate Patricia Vargas was elected president of the Supreme Court of Justice, joining President Laura Fernández (Executive) and Legislative Assembly President Yara Jiménez (Legislative).
Vargas secured the required 12 votes after five rounds of voting in the full Supreme Court, becoming the second woman to preside over the country's highest court. She will serve a four-year term. Vargas has a 25-year judicial career and has been a magistrate in the Criminal Cassation Chamber since 2023.
After her election, Vargas stated: "The Judicial Branch is not sustained solely by its norms or its buildings; it is sustained by the trust of the people, the independence of those who judge, and the daily work of thousands of judicial servants." President Fernández celebrated on social media, writing: "For the first time in the history of Costa Rica, three women are presiding over the Powers of the Republic."
Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly also has a female majority, with 30 female and 27 male deputies. Additionally, the president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, Eugenia Zamora, is also a woman, further highlighting female leadership in the country's institutions.