Who is Karina Andrade, the Kirchnerist judge who ordered the release of terrorists?

The ultra-Kirchnerist judge Karina Andrade, in charge of Court No. 15 of the Criminal, Misdemeanor, and Offenses jurisdiction of the City of Buenos Aires, ordered the release of 114 far-left terrorists in the early hours of Thursday, detained during the disturbances on Wednesday afternoon in front of the National Congress.

The magistrate argued that the detentions "affect essential constitutional rights, such as the right to protest, demonstrate in democracy, and freedom of expression." The released individuals were those under the jurisdiction of the City of Buenos Aires.

Andrade excused herself by saying that the lack of precise information about the detentions complicated the judicial work. "Details about the time and place of the detention were no longer provided, nor was it possible to inform about which specific crime the detention was being validated for," she claimed.

Additionally, she stated that "none of the detained individuals were charged with crimes of carrying firearms, injuries, or arson of public property." The Kirchnerist judge also emphasized that Wednesday's protests in front of Congress were carried out, according to her, "in favor of exercising freedom of expression for members of one of the most vulnerable sectors of our Republic, the elderly."

Andrade's Background

Karina Andrade has been leading Court No. 15 since 2021 and, in recent years, has been involved in cases of various kinds, ranging from cosmetic surgery procedures to cases of illegal gambling, animal abuse, and a case related to Victoria Xipolitakis.

In one of her most recent rulings, Andrade requested raids related to the promotion of illegal online gambling, in coordination with judges from other provinces. She also analyzed the role of an influencer in this case, raising the need for national legislation to regulate their participation in such promotions, considering the issue as a matter of "public health and childhood" that requires state intervention.

In another case, the magistrate addressed a case of severe injuries resulting from cosmetic surgeries that left a woman in a vegetative state. The interventions were performed by a doctor without specialization in cosmetic surgery, who was convicted.

In her ruling, Andrade, who is also a radical feminist, warned about the "beauty standards imposed mainly on women," which, according to her progressive view, constitute a form of "symbolic, psychological, and physical violence," in accordance with Law 26.485.

Andrade, 42 years old, graduated from the University of Buenos Aires with a degree in Law and holds a postgraduate degree in Criminal Law. She has participated in practical workshops in Argentina and the United States. Her career in the Judiciary began in 2004, working in different prosecutorial units, secretariats, and pro-secretariats, in addition to teaching at the university level.

The Court she leads has an Instagram account where events, cases, resolutions, images of the work team, and contact methods for those interested in attending hearings are published.