Julieta Makintach, the judge who was suspended after the trial of Diego Maradona’s medical team collapsed, is set to face impeachment after the court in charge of the case chose to accept evidence against her. 

The first trial over Maradona’s death was ruled to be a mistrial when Makintach was forced to resign after it emerged she was secretly involved in a documentary about the trial. The project was titled Justicia Divina (Divine Justice).

She is accused of allowing the illegal entry of video cameras to the court and entering inappropriate discussions with witnesses and lawyers during breaks in the daily proceedings.

Makintach had presented a 30-page defense document claiming that the footage recorded was authorized, and that all members of the court were aware of the recording. 

She insisted judges Maximiliano Savarino and Verónica Di Tomasso, who were also on the court that oversaw the trial, had been informed of the plans verbally and via chat, and had given their approval, which she argued was grounds for including them in the impeachment proceedings.

However, witnesses including a policewoman at the court and the court’s secretaries have testified that the judges were unaware of what was going on until they warned them that people in the room were filming.

Makintach resigned in July. However, the case against her going to trial by jury renders that resignation invalid. Instead, she remains under suspension and could be permanently removed from her role if the jury finds her guilty.

Eight people stand accused of failing to administer proper medical care for Maradona, including his main medical advisor, Leopoldo Luque, his psychiatrist, Agustina Cosachov, and psychologist, Carlos Díaz.

The first trial was originally scheduled for June 2024, but the start date was pushed back to March 2025 by repeated delays. The proceedings fell apart in May, and the process is now set to start anew under a new court. 

The trial was allocated via random draw to judges Pablo Rolón, Roberto Gaig and Alberto Ortolani. However, Luque’s defense has called for two of the judges to be removed from the case, arguing that their impartiality is not guaranteed. There is no start date for the new trial.