Supreme Court Justice Mario Carroza Espinosa has stepped down from the nation's highest court after reaching the age of 75, the legal age limit for judicial service. His departure marks the conclusion of a professional career that spanned nearly five decades within the Chilean Judiciary, according to reports from biobiochile.cl.
Carroza began his career in 1977 as a second officer in a criminal court. Over the years, he rose through every level of the judicial hierarchy, serving as a clerk, rapporteur, judicial prosecutor, trial judge, and minister of the Santiago Court of Appeals.
He joined the Supreme Court on December 31, 2020. During his tenure on the high court, he served on both the First and Third Chambers, taking on key responsibilities regarding issues of childhood, family law, and human rights.
A Legacy in Human Rights Cases
The magistrate was a central figure in the prosecution of human rights violation cases occurring between 1973 and 1990. According to judicial records, some of the most emblematic cases he investigated include the Caravana de la Muerte (Caravan of Death), Operation Condor, the "Quemados" case, and the assassination of Senator Jaime Guzmán.
Since 2010, Carroza served as a specialized minister dedicated exclusively to these proceedings, and from 2017, he acted as a judge for the execution of sentences in these matters. Reflecting on his work in transitional justice, the justice noted: “It was a field that truly required dedicated focus. The Supreme Court, in fact, issued its mea culpa at the time. We were then tasked with rectifying that situation, with taking charge of transitional justice as it should have been.”
In addition to his judicial work, Carroza maintained an academic career as a professor of Criminal and Criminal Procedure Law between 1987 and 2015. He also served as the academic director of the “Hernán Correa de la Cerda” Institute of Judicial Studies and represented the institution before commissions on domestic violence and child abuse.
His retirement follows a career that also included leadership roles within the profession, having served two terms as president of the National Association of Magistrates. The jurist departs with the recognition of various officials and social organizations that supported his tenure.
