Juan Carlos Maqueda, born on December 29, 1949 (75 years old), was a renowned Minister at the Supreme Court of the Argentine Nation, the highest judicial tribunal in the country. From 2002 to 2024, Maqueda served as a judge on the Court and had an extensive career as a lawyer and politician in all its facets, in addition to being involved in teaching.
Known in the field as “Pato,” Maqueda left the Supreme Court after turning 75. In fact, the Court honored the former Minister in a ceremony led by judges and authorities of the Supreme Court in 2024. The lawyer is a clear reference in the judicial field, and his statements always make noise in the press, especially when he warns of the “decline in the institutional quality of the country,” referring to stagnation in institutions and the state.
With over 22 years on the Supreme Court, the politician left his position but still speaks out on situations that have a high impact on the country. Another of Maqueda’s peculiarities is that he was present in all three branches (legislative, executive and judicial).
Studies and teaching
Before landing at the Supreme Court of the Nation, Maqueda was a teacher at several universities and completed various studies during his academic training. At the Catholic University of Córdoba, the province where he was born, he studied law at the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences. Years later, he completed two postgraduate degrees. The first was focused on constitutional law and the second on political science. At the age of 28, he began working as a teacher in subjects related to law and politics. During those years, he was also Technical Secretary. He was a professor at the Catholic University of Córdoba, a member of the Institute of Political Law, and a part of the Argentine Association of Constitutional Law.
Politics and judicial career
His first approach to politics was in the executive branch, when he was in charge of the Culture Secretariat of the Municipality of Córdoba. In the legislative branch, where deputies and senators interact and create laws, the politician was a deputy for his province between 1987 and 1991. He later became a senator for the province.
Teaching and his presence in the three branches of the Argentine state allowed him to gain ground in the political-judicial field. That is why he became provisional president of the Senate and gained a wide political spectrum during those years, in addition to his prominence in the province of Córdoba. From 1991 to 1999, he was a national deputy and vice president of the Deputies’ Bloc. His earlier involvement in teaching and education resurfaced in the late 1990s when he was elected Minister of Education of Córdoba.
Supreme Court judge
In 2002, Maqueda’s nomination to join the Supreme Court was formalized, referring to an official document. From that year until the end of 2024, the politician served as a judge on the Supreme Court. The role of these individuals in the highest judicial tribunal is tied to decision-making in final instances, with a strong interaction with the Constitution and its laws.
In an interview, the former judge recalled the most tense and unsettling moments he experienced during each government, including in 2003, a year after joining the Supreme Court, and later during Mauricio Macri’s presidency. Certain aspects have distinguished the lawyer from other judges. Maqueda was part of the three branches of government (legislative, judicial, and executive), and he was known for carrying the banner of human rights.
Recognition by the court and Maqueda’s statements
At the end of 2024, the Court held a recognition ceremony for Juan Carlos Maqueda and his extensive career in the Supreme Court until the age of 75, when he retired. During the event, Maqueda reinforced the idea that “institutions must not be weakened,” and insisted on strengthening “the judiciary and its independence.” Several ministers, judges, and authorities were present and described Maqueda as a “respected voice” and a republican man.
“The government does not believe in political agreements or in dialogue,” was another phrase delivered by Maqueda, suggesting that the lack of dialogue in a government is not positive. As a light at the end of the tunnel, the former judge stated that the situation in Argentina regarding institutional quality is not “irreparable.” He stated that actions and measures must be carried out in the present in order not to continue feeding discontent.
With more than 20 years on the Supreme Court, Maqueda’s voice is clearly heard and acknowledged. A man who retired at 75 but continues to feed the political and judicial sphere with his statements.