{
  "id": "nexus-act-1-0003-2979-29",
  "citation": "Res. 013-2015",
  "section": "nexus_decisions",
  "doc_type": "court_decision",
  "title_es": "Creación de la plaza de Gestor Ambiental en el Poder Judicial",
  "title_en": "Creation of the Environmental Manager position in the Judiciary",
  "summary_es": "El documento recoge el acta de la Corte Plena del Poder Judicial de Costa Rica (Artículo XXIX, sesión del 23 de marzo de 2015), en la cual se aborda la urgente necesidad de crear una plaza de Gestor o Gestora Ambiental Institucional para dar cumplimiento a los imperativos legales del Plan de Gestión Ambiental (PGAI) y a diversas leyes ambientales (Ley 8839, Ley 5395, Ley 7554, Ley 7447). Ante limitaciones presupuestarias y la prohibición de prácticas como \"gemelear\" plazas o el uso indebido de permisos con goce de salario para funciones ordinarias, la Corte decide trasladar a los Departamentos de Planificación y de Personal la tarea de analizar conjuntamente la creación de dicha plaza, determinando el momento oportuno o su inclusión en el presupuesto de 2016. Se aclara que, una vez creada, la plaza deberá sacarse a concurso público, descartando nombramientos directos. La decisión busca asegurar la sostenibilidad del programa ambiental institucional sin violar normativas internas de gestión humana.",
  "summary_en": "This document is the record of the Plenary Court of the Costa Rican Judiciary (Article XXIX, session of March 23, 2015), addressing the urgent need to create an Institutional Environmental Manager position to comply with the legal mandates of the Environmental Management Plan (PGAI) and various environmental laws (Law 8839, Law 5395, Law 7554, Law 7447). Given budget constraints and prohibitions on practices like \"twinning\" positions or misusing paid leave for ordinary functions, the Court decides to refer the matter to the Planning and Human Resources Departments for joint analysis of creating the position, determining the opportune moment or its inclusion in the 2016 budget. It clarifies that, once created, the position must be filled through a public competitive process, ruling out direct appointments. The decision aims to ensure the sustainability of the institutional environmental program without violating internal human resource regulations.",
  "court_or_agency": "",
  "date": "23/03/2015",
  "year": "2015",
  "topic_ids": [
    "_off-topic"
  ],
  "primary_topic_id": "_off-topic",
  "es_concept_hints": [
    "Gestor Ambiental",
    "PGAI",
    "gemelear plazas",
    "clase ancha",
    "clase angosta",
    "permiso con goce de salario",
    "Ley Orgánica del Poder Judicial"
  ],
  "article_citations": [],
  "keywords_es": [
    "Gestor Ambiental",
    "Plan de Gestión Ambiental",
    "PGAI",
    "Corte Plena",
    "Poder Judicial",
    "Ley 8839",
    "Ley 7554",
    "Ley 7447",
    "Ley 5395",
    "plaza",
    "concurso",
    "creación de plaza",
    "Comisión de Asuntos Ambientales",
    "presupuesto 2016"
  ],
  "keywords_en": [
    "Environmental Manager",
    "Environmental Management Plan",
    "PGAI",
    "Plenary Court",
    "Judiciary",
    "Law 8839",
    "Law 7554",
    "Law 7447",
    "Law 5395",
    "position",
    "competitive process",
    "position creation",
    "Environmental Affairs Commission",
    "2016 budget"
  ],
  "excerpt_es": "Sin objeción alguna, se dispuso: Trasladar lo planteado por la Comisión de Asuntos Ambientales a los Departamentos de Planificación y de Personal, para que en forma conjunta analicen la creación de una plaza de Gestor o Gestora Ambiental y determinen el momento oportuno para ello, o bien, se incluya dentro del presupuesto para el 2016, con el fin de dar seguimiento a los imperativos legales del Plan de Gestión Ambiental que el Poder Judicial debe cumplir, con la indicación de que una vez creada dicha plaza deberá sacarse a concurso.",
  "excerpt_en": "Without any objection, it was ordered: To forward the proposal from the Environmental Affairs Commission to the Planning and Human Resources Departments, so that they may jointly analyze the creation of an Environmental Manager position and determine the opportune moment for it, or alternatively, include it in the budget for 2016, in order to follow up on the legal imperatives of the Environmental Management Plan that the Judiciary must comply with, with the instruction that once said position is created it must be filled through a competitive process.",
  "outcome": {
    "label_en": "Agreement approved",
    "label_es": "Acuerdo aprobado",
    "summary_en": "The Plenary Court ordered the referral of the proposal to create an Environmental Manager position to the Planning and Human Resources Departments for analysis and eventual inclusion in the 2016 budget, with the requirement that the position be filled through a competitive process once created.",
    "summary_es": "La Corte Plena dispone trasladar a los Departamentos de Planificación y de Personal la propuesta de creación de una plaza de Gestor o Gestora Ambiental para su análisis y eventual inclusión en el presupuesto de 2016, debiendo la plaza sacarse a concurso una vez creada."
  },
  "pull_quotes": [
    {
      "context": "Intervención de la Magistrada Escoto",
      "quote_en": "This Environmental Manager position is an urgency for the Judiciary, in order to comply with the laws that require it.",
      "quote_es": "Esta plaza de Gestor Ambiental es una urgencia para el Poder Judicial, en aras de cumplir con las leyes que así lo establecen."
    },
    {
      "context": "Por tanto",
      "quote_en": "With the aim of following up on the legal imperatives of the Environmental Management Plan that the Judiciary must comply with, with the indication that once said position is created it must be filled through a competitive process.",
      "quote_es": "Con el fin de dar seguimiento a los imperativos legales del Plan de Gestión Ambiental que el Poder Judicial debe cumplir, con la indicación de que una vez creada dicha plaza deberá sacarse a concurso."
    }
  ],
  "cites": [],
  "cited_by": [],
  "references": {
    "internal": [],
    "external": []
  },
  "source_url": "https://nexuspj.poder-judicial.go.cr/document/act-1-0003-2979-29",
  "tier": 2,
  "is_environmental": false,
  "_editorial_citation_count": 0,
  "regulations_by_article": null,
  "amendments_by_article": null,
  "dictamen_by_article": null,
  "concordancias_by_article": null,
  "afectaciones_by_article": null,
  "resoluciones_by_article": null,
  "cited_by_votos": [],
  "cited_norms": [],
  "cited_norms_inverted": [],
  "sentencias_relacionadas": [],
  "temas_y_subtemas": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "nombre": "Plan de Gestión Ambiental del Poder Judicial"
    }
  ],
  "cascade_only": false,
  "amendment_count": 0,
  "body_es_text": "ARTÍCULO XXIX \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\r\n\r\n\nARTÍCULO XXIX \n\r\n\r\n\nDocumento\r\n3912-13 / 1847-15, 2289-15\n\r\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\r\n\n El\r\nConsejo Superior en sesión N° 16-15 celebrada el 26 de febrero del año en\r\ncurso, artículo LXXIII, tomó el acuerdo que literalmente dice:\n\r\n\r\n\n“La Magistrada Carmenmaría Escoto Fernández, en su condición de Presidenta de la Comisión de Asuntos Ambientales, en oficio N° CMEF-CAAMB-001-2015 de 16 de febrero de 2015,\r\nexpuso lo siguiente:\n\r\n\r\n\n \n\r\n\r\n\n“…en mi condición de Presidenta de la Comisión de Asuntos Ambientales, me permito indicarles que ante la ausencia de la plaza que permita dar seguimiento a los\r\nimperativos legales del Plan de Gestión Ambiental que la institución debe\r\ncumplir, en sesión N° 2-15 del 8 de enero del presente año, mediante oficio\r\nCHEF-SP-39-2014 la Comisión solicitó un permiso con goce de salario y\r\nsustitución para la plaza N° 359362, de manera que pudiera nombrarse a una\r\npersona que realizara las labores de gestor ambiental.\n\r\n\r\n\nDicha\r\nsolicitud surgió a raíz de que en el Artículo LXXV de la Sesión 91-14, del 16\r\nde octubre de 2014 se tomó un acuerdo que indicaba entre otras cosas: “[...] De\r\ncrearse el puesto de Gestor Ambiental por parte de la citada Dirección la\r\nclasificación y valoración del puesto será en la clase ancha de Profesional 2,\r\nclase angosta Gestor Ambiental.”\n\r\n\r\n\nEn virtud de\r\nque la Institución carece de una clase angosta de gestor ambiental, se propuso\r\nutilizar la plaza mencionada por tratarse de una de la misma categoría (clase\r\nancha); sin embargo la naturaleza de sus funciones es radicalmente diferente\r\n(clase angosta).\n\r\n\r\n\nCon base en\r\nlo acordado por el Consejo Superior durante la sesión 57-14 del 8 de diciembre\r\nde 2014, se rechazó la gestión con base en la forma en que se planteaba la\r\nmisma, lo cual provocó un replanteamiento por parte de la Comisión de Asuntos\r\nAmbientales en virtud de la urgencia que demanda la atención de la temática por\r\nparte del Poder Judicial.\n\r\n\r\n\nDe esta\r\nmanera, mediante nota del 19 de enero de 2015 planteamos un recurso de\r\nreconsideración en relación al acuerdo supracitado, razón por la cual se\r\nplantea para aprobación el proyecto “Rediseño del Sistema de Gestión\r\nAmbiental Institucional”. Como se detalló en el mismo, para la\r\nrealización de dicha labor se requiere la colaboración de un gestor ambiental\r\ncon el fin de que pueda llevar a cabo las actividades allí señaladas.\n\r\n\r\n\nSegún se\r\nindica en el formulario del proyecto “Un factor fundamental de éxito es la\r\nasignación de recursos para que al menos una profesional o previsional en el\r\ncampo del ambiente desarrollo el “Rediseño del Sistema de Gestión Ambiental\r\nInstitucional”. Si no se asigna los recursos, el rediseño se\r\natrasaría” (apartado E. Factores Críticos del Éxito)\n\r\n\r\n\nPor otra\r\nparte, en sesión 91-14 del 16 de octubre de 2014, artículo LXXV, el Consejo\r\nSuperior conoció el perfil de Gestor Ambiental, realizado por la Dirección de\r\nGestión Humana, en el cual se señalan como requisitos de formación académica:\r\nIngeniería en Gestión Ambiental, Ingeniería Ambiental, Salud Ambiental, y\r\nposteriormente se amplió a profesionales en áreas como biología, química, etc.\n\r\n\r\n\nEl acuerdo\r\ntomado por el Consejo Superior de “conceder permiso con goce de salario y\r\nsustitución al licenciado Arnoldo Mora Alvarado, Profesional 2 del Departamento\r\nde Laboratorio de Ciencias Forenses, plaza Nº 359362, a partir del 16 de febrero del 2015 y hasta por seis meses, a fin de que redefina el Sistema\r\nde Gestión Ambiental Institucional del Poder Judicial.\n\r\n\r\n\nLo anterior\r\nen el entendido que es el licenciado Mora Alvarado el que llevará a cabo las\r\nfunciones señaladas” genera un problema operativo por cuanto el Ing. Mora no\r\ncumple el perfil propuesto para ocupar el cargo de gestor ambiental según lo\r\nindicado previamente siendo que su formación académica es de Ingeniero\r\nIndustrial. Por otra parte, las labores sustantivas del Ing. Mora son de\r\ningeniero de control de producción en el Departamento de Ciencias Forenses,\r\nsiendo que la posibilidad de emplear el número de plaza que él ocupa se dio,\r\ntal y como se indicó previamente, dado que la misma corresponde a una plaza de\r\nla misma clase ancha que la propuesta para gestor ambiental, siendo que en toda\r\nla institución no se va a encontrar una clase angosta equivalente por tratarse\r\nde un perfil recién creado.\n\r\n\r\n\nEn\r\nconsecuencia y, ante la afectación de la que sería objeto el Departamento de\r\nCiencias Forenses, se solicita dejar sin efecto el acuerdo en los términos en\r\nque fue aprobado, siendo que lo ideal sería crear durante el período de\r\nvigencia del proyecto la plaza de gestor ambiental con los requisitos que\r\ndemanda el puesto.\n\r\n\r\n\nDe igual\r\nforma, respetuosamente les pedimos analizar la viabilidad institucional para\r\ncontar con una plaza de profesional 2 que pueda ejecutar durante este año 2015\r\nel proyecto especial “Rediseño del Sistema de Gestión Ambiental Institucional”,\r\nya que nos preocupa el no estar cumpliendo con la obligación legal establecida\r\nen las leyes: Ley Gestión Integral de los Residuos (Ley 8839), Ley\r\nGeneral de Salud (Ley 5395), Ley Orgánica del Ambiente (7554) y Ley de\r\nRegulación del Uso Racional de la Energía (7447).\n\r\n\r\n\nComo ya se\r\nha mencionado, a fin de asegurar el éxito en la ejecución del proyecto y el\r\nlogro de los resultados previstos en material ambiental, se requiere de una\r\npersona con un perfil previamente definido; por lo que la Comisión ya acordó\r\nsolicitar la creación de la plaza de Gestor o Gestora Ambiental para el 2016.\n\r\n\r\n\nQuedamos a\r\ndisposición para atender cualquier consulta o información que se requiera este\r\nHonorable Consejo, en aras de contar con la persona profesional en el menor\r\nplazo posible.”\n\r\n\r\n\n- 0 -\n\r\n\r\n\nLa Magistrada Carmenmaría Escoto Fernández, en condición de Presidenta de la Comisión de Asuntos Ambientales, en oficio N CMEF-CAAMB-002-2015 de 25 de febrero de 2015,\r\ncomunicó lo siguiente:\n\r\n\r\n\n“Reciban un cordial saludo y de seguido, en mi\r\ncondición de Presidenta de la Comisión de Asuntos Ambientales, deseo hacer las\r\nsiguientes adiciones y aclaraciones al oficio CMEF-CAAMB-001-2015:\n\r\n\r\n\nPrimeramente, deseo indicar que\r\nesta Comisión ante la posible afectación de la que sería objeto el Departamento\r\nde Ciencias Forenses, tomó la decisión de pedir al Consejo Superior dejar sin\r\nefecto el permiso con goce de salario y sustitución concedido a partir del 16\r\nde febrero del 2015 y hasta por seis meses, al licenciado Arnoldo Mora\r\nAlvarado, quien ocupa la plaza Nº 359362 de Profesional 2 en ese Departamento. \n\r\n\r\n\nNo obstante, es importante\r\naclarar que en ningún momento se ha pretendido la suspensión del proyecto\r\ndenominado “Rediseño del Sistema de Gestión Ambiental Institucional”. Por el\r\ncontrario, reiteramos la urgencia de nombrar un Gestor Ambiental en el Poder\r\nJudicial, de allí que lo peticionado es la interposición de sus buenos oficios\r\na fin de analizar la viabilidad institucional de contar con una plaza de\r\nProfesional 2 de banda ancha, en la cual se pueda ejecutar durante este año\r\n2015 el proyecto citado. Lo anterior, ante nuestra preocupación de cumplir a la\r\nbrevedad con la obligación legal establecida en las leyes: Ley Gestión\r\nIntegral de los Residuos (Ley 8839), Ley General de Salud (Ley 5395), Ley\r\nOrgánica del Ambiente (7554) y Ley de Regulación del Uso Racional de la Energía\r\n(7447).\n\r\n\r\n\nEn segundo término,\r\nrespetuosamente les solicitamos que en el momento en que se disponga de dicha\r\nplaza, se nombre en ella a la Ingeniera Susana Picado Jiménez, cédula n.°\r\n1-1413-0484, ingeniera química, quien desde el 12 de noviembre de 2014 ha desempeñado de manera meritoria el cargo de Gestora Ambiental en el Departamento Ciencias\r\nForenses de la Ciudad Judicial, San Joaquín de Flores; y, quien ha demostrado\r\ntener el conocimiento, excelente aptitud y perfil para cumplir de manera óptima\r\ncon el puesto.\n\r\n\r\n\nComo ya se ha mencionado, la\r\nconsecución momentánea de esta plaza y su posterior creación, así como la\r\ndesignación de la Ingeniera Picado Jiménez, es a criterio de la Comisión,\r\nfundamental para cumplir con lo establecido por el ordenamiento jurídico y\r\nasegurar el éxito en la ejecución del proyecto y el logro de los resultados\r\nprevistos en material ambiental.\n\r\n\r\n\nQuedamos a disposición para\r\natender cualquier consulta o información que requiera este Honorable Consejo.\n\r\n\r\n\n \r\n\n\r\n\r\n\nDe los señores y señoras del\r\nConsejo Superior, con agradecimiento y respeto,”\n\r\n\r\n\n- 0\r\n-\n\r\n\r\n\nEn\r\nsesión Nº 91-14, celebrada el 16 de octubre del 2014, artículo LXXV, se tomó el\r\nacuerdo cuya parte dispositiva que literalmente dice: \n\r\n\r\n\n“Se\r\nacordó: 1.) Tener por rendido el\r\ninforme de la Dirección de Gestión Humana y acoger las recomendaciones\r\ndirigidas a la Dirección de Planificación, por consiguiente: a) Que la\r\nDirección de Planificación valore la creación del puesto de Gestor Ambiental,\r\nno sólo para cumplir con el imperativo legal de que toda institución debe\r\ncontar con esta clase de puesto sino para impulsar la política ambiental\r\ninstitucional elaborada por la Comisión de Asuntos Ambientales del Poder\r\nJudicial. b) De crearse el puesto de Gestor Ambiental, la instancia\r\nadministrativa competente y experta en la materia, es decir, la Dirección de\r\nPlanificación, es la encargada de determinar su adscripción dentro de la\r\nestructura organizacional del Poder Judicial. c) De crearse el puesto de\r\nGestor Ambiental por parte de la citada Dirección la clasificación y valoración\r\ndel puesto será en la clase ancha de Profesional 2, clase angosta Gestor\r\nAmbiental. d) Crear la clase angosta de “Gestor Ambiental” tal y como se\r\npresenta en el anexo Nº 1 del presente informe. 2.) Acoger el acuerdo\r\ntomado por la Comisión de Asuntos Ambientales y trasladarlo a la Dirección de\r\nPlanificación para que realice el estudio de implementación, administración y\r\nseguimiento del PGAI correspondiente a los años 2014 y siguientes y solicitar\r\nuna ampliación ante el MINAE para cumplir con los compromisos institucionales\r\nante ese Ministerio. 3.) En razón de que este Poder de la República está\r\nlimitado presupuestariamente solicitar a la Dirección de Planificación la\r\nredistribución de plazas.”\n\r\n\r\n\n- 0 -\n\r\n\r\n\nPosteriormente, en sesión N° 8-15\r\ndel 29 de enero de 2015, artículo II, de conformidad\r\ncon lo que establece el artículo 44 párrafo cuarto de la Ley\r\nOrgánica del Poder Judicial, se concedió permiso con goce de salario y\r\nsustitución al licenciado Arnoldo Mora Alvarado, Profesional 2 del Departamento\r\nde Laboratorio de Ciencias Forenses, plaza Nº 359362, a partir del 16 de febrero del 2015 y hasta por seis meses, a fin de que redefina el Sistema\r\nde Gestión Ambiental Institucional del Poder Judicial. Lo anterior en el\r\nentendido que es el licenciado Mora Alvarado el que llevará a cabo las\r\nfunciones señaladas, en razón de lo dispuesto por la Corte Plena mediante\r\nacuerdo tomado en sesión Nº 57-14 celebrada el 8 de diciembre del 2014,\r\nartículo XXV, sobre la legalidad o no de la creación de plazas cuando se\r\notorga un permiso con goce de salario a una funcionaria o un funcionario, así\r\ncomo la práctica de \"ordinariar\" plazas extraordinarias, cuando se\r\nsupone que éstas se crean para una situación de excepción, la que una vez\r\ndesaparecida, conlleva la eliminación de esas plazas.\n\r\n\r\n\nSe acordó: 1) Comunicar a la Magistrada Car menmaría Escoto Fernández, en su condición de Presidenta de la Comisión de Asuntos Ambientales, que con motivo de las obligaciones legales que este Consejo\r\ntiene como órgano subordinado a la Corte Plena, cualquier nombramiento que se realice a la luz del artículo 44 de la Ley Orgánica del Poder Judicial, deberá ajustarse a lo dispuesto por la Corte Plena en sesión N° 57-14 celebrada el 8 de diciembre del 2014, artículo XXV; en razón\r\nde lo anterior, en este momento no es factible acceder a la propuesta de\r\nnombramientos que plantea, no obstante siendo conscientes de las obligaciones\r\nlegales que ha asumido este Poder de la República en materia ambiental se traslada la gestión de la citada comisión a conocimiento de la Corte Plena para que resuelva lo que considere oportuno. 2.) Hacer este acuerdo de\r\nconocimiento de la Comisión Ambiental.”\n\r\n\r\n\n- 0 -\n\r\n\r\n\nSe concede el uso de la palabra a la Magistrada Escoto, quien manifiesta: “Esta plaza de Gestor Ambiental es una urgencia para el\r\nPoder Judicial, en aras de cumplir con las leyes que así lo establecen.\n\r\n\r\n\nPara el Poder Judicial sería nefasto no poder cumplir,\r\nasí que se cuenta con todo un programa que hemos hecho esfuerzos en materia\r\nambiental y una política ambiental que dejó establecida el anterior Presidente,\r\nExmagistrado don Óscar González y de lo cual estuve anuente a que se realizara,\r\npara cumplir con las leyes que así lo ordenan, dado que está prohibido lo que\r\nse denomina tradicionalmente como “gemelear” plazas, fue imposible para el\r\nConsejo Superior lograr lo que la Presidenta, Magistrada Villanueva, expuso en\r\nresumen muy sabiamente.\n\r\n\r\n\nDe tal manera que solicitamos desde la Comisión de Asuntos Ambientales, la creación de la plaza de Gestor Ambiental, porque es una\r\norden dada por la ley en sentido estricto, que nos obliga a contar ella.\n\r\n\r\n\nEl Consejo Superior también contó, porque esto se\r\nindicó, con un perfil que así se nos solicitó, en cuanto a qué era lo que se ocupaba\r\ny dentro de las gestiones que debería cumplir este Gestor Ambiental, es la del\r\nPlan de Gestión Ambiental aprobado.\n\r\n\r\n\nQuisiera ver de qué forma podríamos coadyuvar con esto,\r\nporque para la Institución que en muchos campos ha venido siendo un ejemplo en\r\ncumplimiento de temas de interés para el país y no solo para Costa Rica sino a\r\nnivel de Iberoamérica, según podemos observar en el Estado de la Nación, el tema ambiental es esencial y también es uno de los temas que está en Cumbres.\r\nSolicito vehementemente, la posibilidad de que ello sea factible.\n\r\n\r\n\nNo había posibilidad con el licenciado Arnoldo Mora\r\nAlvarado, Profesional 2, quien venía gestionando desde el despacho donde\r\nlabora, en el Departamento Laboratorio de Ciencias Forenses, por cuanto no\r\ncubre el perfil deseado, de manera que habría que crear la plaza si ustedes a\r\nbien lo tienen y analizar cómo se integra con personas que reúnan ese perfil\r\npara sacarla a concurso.\n\r\n\r\n\nDejo en ustedes esta inquietud, en el entendido de que\r\nsi esto no fuera factible, sería la primera en tener que decirles, renuncio a\r\nesta Comisión y tendríamos que cerrarla, por esta y otras razones de mucho peso\r\nen que fue la máster Patricia Bonilla Rodríguez, Profesional en Proyectos del\r\nPoder Judicial, quien tuvo gran esfuerzo en lograr las metas y dar seguimiento\r\na todos los acuerdos y las ejecuciones con que contábamos, y también el grupo\r\nde personas que a nivel nacional, porque creamos varias gestiones ambientales\r\nen diferentes ámbitos como lo fue, Grecia y Turrialba, para seguir con este\r\nprograma tan importante y de tanta actualidad.\n\r\n\r\n\nDejo en ustedes la inquietud para analizar de qué\r\nmanera creamos la plaza de Gestor o Gestora Ambiental que diversas leyes nos\r\nobliga a tener”.\n\r\n\r\n\nExpresa el Magistrado Vega: “Quiero plantear una duda\r\nen relación con lo manifestado por la Magistrada Escoto, porque según entendí, la idea es, en caso de que se llegue a crear la\r\nplaza que se saque a concurso, pero la propuesta del acuerdo es que se nombre a\r\n la Ingeniera Susana Picado Jiménez, esa es la duda que me genera, si lo planteado\r\nes la creación de una plaza para sacarla a concurso; o si se va a crear una\r\nplaza con nombres y apellidos para una persona, lo cual me parecería\r\ninconveniente”.\n\r\n\r\n\nIndica la Magistrada Escoto: “A lo interno de la Comisión se estimó que la señora Susana Picado Jiménez, Ingeniera Química, venía\r\ngestionando como meritoria y dándonos una gran ayuda era la persona idónea,\r\npero al observar que no fue el Consejo Superior quien pudo hacer la\r\nreadecuación, tendríamos que sacarla a concurso por el respeto a la ley. \n\r\n\r\n\nEsto fue dirigido al Consejo Superior con la esperanza\r\nde que se podía “clonar” la plaza, al contar con una persona que tenía un\r\nperfil apto, quien se desempeñó increíblemente para la Comisión y no era el Jefe de la oficina donde ella venía prestando sus servicios. No\r\nobstante, al gestionarse ante Corte y al no tratarse de un permiso con goce de\r\nsalario conforme al artículo 44 de la Ley Orgánica del Poder\r\nJudicial, de ese despacho donde ella venía desempeñándose en un puesto,\r\nque podríamos decir de meritoria, pero realizando una labor increíble, pensamos\r\nque para el Consejo Superior no era ningún problema conceder el permiso en la\r\noficina donde se desempeña la Ingeniera Susana Picado, de quien tengo las más altas recomendaciones de toda la Comisión; sin embargo, una vez creada la plaza, me parece que sí tendría que sacarse a concurso”.\n\r\n\r\n\nManifiesta el Magistrado Castillo: “La decisión del\r\nConsejo Superior estuvo basada en que se estaba solicitando un permiso con goce\r\nde salario para nombrar una persona, lo cual me parece una decisión razonable.\n\r\n\r\n\nSiempre he sido de la tesis de que cuando se otorga un\r\npermiso con goce de salario, no es conveniente, ni jurídicamente procedente,\r\nque en esa plaza se nombre a una persona, de manera que estaría votando\r\nlamentablemente en contra de lo propuesto por la Magistrada Escoto”.\n\r\n\r\n\nInterviene el Magistrado Arroyo: “Me correspondió\r\nestar en la sesión del Consejo Superior donde se conoció la solicitud de la Magistrada Escoto. Hasta donde entendí en ese momento, fue efectivamente a través de la\r\npráctica de los permisos con goce de salario de conformidad con lo establecido\r\nen el artículo 44 de la Ley Orgánica del Poder Judicial, para contar con los servicios\r\nde esa funcionaria. Sin embargo, lo que el Consejo Superior decidió fue, en\r\nprimer lugar nosotros no considerábamos posible, dada la decisión de esta Corte\r\nde prohibir el uso del citado artículo en esa modalidad para funciones\r\nordinarias, que este sería el caso, porque sería atender un programa, si bien\r\nes cierto nuevo, serían funciones ordinarias y lo que correspondería era\r\ndiscutir su creación a partir del presupuesto del 2016.\n\r\n\r\n\nLa Magistrada Escoto\r\nefectivamente tiene razón, existe una obligación de ley de que la Institución tiene que contar con esa plaza, para que atienda el tema ambiental.\n\r\n\r\n\nDe manera que aclarado el tema por parte de la Magistrada Escoto, en el sentido de que no se trataría de nombrar a la persona que ha venido\r\nfungiendo como Gestora Ambiental, pero además en la condición de no recibir ni\r\nsiquiera salario, es decir como un funcionario ad honoren, entendería\r\nque primero se debe crear la plaza y, en segundo lugar, definir en su momento\r\nla persona que se nombre en ella.\n\r\n\r\n\nConsidero que la propuesta de la Magistrada Escoto debe ser avalada por todas y todos, porque según entiendo –y si estoy\r\nequivocado ruego me corrijan- esta situación se normalizaría a partir del\r\npresupuesto del 2016, a través de la convocatoria a un concurso donde doña\r\nSusana, como cualquier otra persona podría participar”.\n\r\n\r\n\nAñade el Magistrado Castillo: “En los términos que lo\r\nha señalado el Magistrado Arroyo me parece razonable la propuesta, y si para\r\ncumplir con esa obligación legal es necesario crear una plaza, estimo es\r\nrazonable y más que razonable jurídicamente así es, que una vez creada la plaza\r\nse tiene que sacar a concurso y a partir de eso se escogerá a la persona más\r\nidónea.\n\r\n\r\n\nEn esos términos sí estaría votando a favor, lo que si\r\nno podría votar era la otra propuesta, en los términos que ya lo expliqué”.\n\r\n\r\n\n Expresa\r\n la Magistrada Pereira: “Esta Corte avalaría la propuesta de que el Consejo\r\nSuperior y el Departamento de Planificación tomen en cuenta la creación de dicha\r\nplaza para el 2016, porque entiendo que para el segundo semestre de este año\r\nestaríamos imposibilitados, pues no está presupuestado”.\n\r\n\r\n\nIndica la Presidenta, Magistrada Villanueva: “Si no hay ninguna objeción, trasladaríamos la propuesta a los Departamentos de\r\nPlanificación y de Personal, para que determinen el momento oportuno para la\r\ncreación de una plaza de Gestor o Gestora Ambiental y se incluya en el\r\npresupuesto del 2016, eso sí como una obligación y en todo caso la plaza se sacará\r\na concurso”. \n\r\n\r\n\nSin objeción alguna, se dispuso: Trasladar lo planteado por la Comisión de Asuntos Ambientales a los Departamentos de Planificación y de Personal, para que en\r\nforma conjunta analicen la creación de una plaza de Gestor o Gestora Ambiental\r\ny determinen el momento oportuno para ello, o bien, se incluya dentro del\r\npresupuesto para el 2016, con el fin de dar seguimiento a los imperativos\r\nlegales del Plan de Gestión Ambiental que el Poder Judicial debe cumplir, con\r\nla indicación de que una vez creada dicha plaza deberá sacarse a concurso.",
  "body_en_text": "ARTICLE XXIX\n\nDocument\n3912-13 / 1847-15, 2289-15\n\nThe Consejo Superior, in session No. 16-15 held on February 26 of this year, article LXXIII, adopted the agreement that literally states:\n\n\"Magistrate Carmenmaría Escoto Fernández, in her capacity as President of the Environmental Affairs Committee, in official communication No. CMEF-CAAMB-001-2015 of February 16, 2015, set forth the following:\n\n\"…in my capacity as President of the Environmental Affairs Committee, I wish to indicate to you that given the absence of the position needed to follow up on the legal imperatives of the Institutional Environmental Management Plan (Plan de Gestión Ambiental) that the institution must comply with, in session No. 2-15 of January 8 of this year, through official communication CHEF-SP-39-2014, the Committee requested a leave with pay and substitution for position No. 359362, so that a person could be appointed to perform the duties of environmental manager (gestor ambiental).\n\nSaid request arose because in Article LXXV of Session 91-14, of October 16, 2014, an agreement was adopted which indicated, among other things: “[...] Should the position of Environmental Manager be created by the aforementioned Directorate, the classification and valuation of the position will be in the broad class of Professional 2, narrow class Environmental Manager.”\n\nSince the Institution lacks a narrow class for environmental manager, it was proposed to use the aforementioned position as it is one of the same category (broad class); however, the nature of its functions is radically different (narrow class).\n\nBased on what was agreed by the Consejo Superior during session 57-14 of December 8, 2014, the request was rejected based on the manner in which it was presented, which prompted a reconsideration by the Environmental Affairs Committee given the urgency demanded for the Judiciary (Poder Judicial) to address the subject matter.\n\nThus, by note of January 19, 2015, we filed a motion for reconsideration regarding the above-cited agreement, which is why the project “Redesign of the Institutional Environmental Management System” (Rediseño del Sistema de Gestión Ambiental Institucional) is submitted for approval. As detailed therein, carrying out that task requires the collaboration of an environmental manager (gestor ambiental) in order to perform the activities indicated there.\n\nAs indicated in the project form, “A fundamental success factor is the allocation of resources so that at least one professional in the environmental field develops the ‘Redesign of the Institutional Environmental Management System’. If resources are not allocated, the redesign will be delayed” (section E. Critical Success Factors)\n\nFurthermore, in session 91-14 of October 16, 2014, article LXXV, the Consejo Superior received the Environmental Manager profile, prepared by the Human Resources Directorate (Dirección de Gestión Humana), which indicated the following academic training requirements: Environmental Management Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Health, and it was later expanded to professionals in areas such as biology, chemistry, etc.\n\nThe agreement adopted by the Consejo Superior to “grant leave with pay and substitution to licenciado Arnoldo Mora Alvarado, a Professional 2 in the Forensic Sciences Laboratory Department, position No. 359362, effective February 16, 2015, and for up to six months, in order to redefine the Institutional Environmental Management System of the Judiciary.\n\nThe foregoing on the understanding that licenciado Mora Alvarado is the one who will carry out the functions indicated” creates an operational problem because Mr. Mora does not meet the profile proposed for the position of environmental manager (gestor ambiental) as previously indicated, his academic background being Industrial Engineering. Moreover, Mr. Mora’s substantive duties are as a production control engineer in the Forensic Sciences Department, and the possibility of using the position number he holds arose, as previously indicated, because that position corresponds to a broad class position of the same type as that proposed for environmental manager (gestor ambiental), it being the case that an equivalent narrow class will not be found anywhere in the institution because it is a newly created profile.\n\nConsequently, and given the affectation that the Forensic Sciences Department would suffer, it is requested that the agreement be left without effect in the terms in which it was approved, the ideal solution being to create, during the project’s validity period, an environmental manager (gestor ambiental) position with the requirements demanded by the post.\n\nLikewise, we respectfully ask you to analyze the institutional feasibility of having a Professional 2 position that can execute the special project “Redesign of the Institutional Environmental Management System” (Rediseño del Sistema de Gestión Ambiental Institucional) during this year 2015, as we are concerned about failing to comply with the legal obligation established in the following laws: the Integrated Waste Management Law (Ley Gestión Integral de los Residuos, Ley 8839), the General Health Law (Ley General de Salud, Ley 5395), the Organic Environmental Law (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, 7554), and the Law for the Regulation of Rational Energy Use (Ley de Regulación del Uso Racional de la Energía, 7447).\n\nAs has already been mentioned, in order to ensure successful project execution and achievement of the expected environmental results, a person with a previously defined profile is required; therefore, the Committee has already agreed to request the creation of the Environmental Manager (Gestor o Gestora Ambiental) position for 2016.\n\nWe remain at your disposal to address any questions or provide any information required by this Honorable Council, in the interest of having the professional on board in the shortest possible time.\"\n\n- 0 -\n\nMagistrate Carmenmaría Escoto Fernández, in her capacity as President of the Environmental Affairs Committee, in official communication No. CMEF-CAAMB-002-2015 of February 25, 2015, communicated the following:\n\n“Warm greetings, and following up, in my capacity as President of the Environmental Affairs Committee, I wish to make the following additions and clarifications to official communication CMEF-CAAMB-001-2015:\n\nFirst, I wish to indicate that in light of the potential impact on the Forensic Sciences Department, this Committee decided to request the Consejo Superior to leave without effect the leave with pay and substitution granted, effective February 16, 2015, and for up to six months, to licenciado Arnoldo Mora Alvarado, who holds position No. 359362 as a Professional 2 in that Department.\n\nHowever, it is important to clarify that at no time was the suspension of the project called “Redesign of the Institutional Environmental Management System” (Rediseño del Sistema de Gestión Ambiental Institucional) intended. On the contrary, we reiterate the urgency of appointing an Environmental Manager (Gestor Ambiental) in the Judiciary, hence the request is for your good offices to analyze the institutional feasibility of having a Professional 2 broad-band position, in which the cited project can be executed during this year 2015. The foregoing is due to our concern to promptly comply with the legal obligation established in the following laws: the Integrated Waste Management Law (Ley Gestión Integral de los Residuos, Ley 8839), the General Health Law (Ley General de Salud, Ley 5395), the Organic Environmental Law (Ley Orgánica del Ambiente, 7554), and the Law for the Regulation of Rational Energy Use (Ley de Regulación del Uso Racional de la Energía, 7447).\n\nSecondly, we respectfully request that when said position becomes available, Engineer Susana Picado Jiménez, ID No. 1-1413-0484, a chemical engineer, be appointed to it. She has meritoriously performed the duties of Environmental Manager (Gestora Ambiental) in the Forensic Sciences Department of the Judicial City, San Joaquín de Flores, since November 12, 2014; and she has demonstrated the knowledge, excellent aptitude, and profile to perform optimally in the position.\n\nAs has already been mentioned, the temporary procurement of this position and its subsequent creation, as well as the appointment of Engineer Picado Jiménez, is, in the Committee’s opinion, fundamental to comply with the legal framework and ensure the success of the project’s execution and the achievement of the expected results in environmental matters.\n\nWe remain at your disposal to address any questions or provide any information required by this Honorable Council.\n\nOf the ladies and gentlemen of the Consejo Superior, with gratitude and respect,\"\n\n- 0 -\n\nIn session No. 91-14, held on October 16, 2014, article LXXV, the agreement was adopted, the operative part of which literally states:\n\n\"It was agreed: 1.) To acknowledge receipt of the report from the Human Resources Directorate (Dirección de Gestión Humana) and to accept the recommendations directed to the Planning Directorate (Dirección de Planificación), consequently: a) That the Planning Directorate evaluate the creation of the Environmental Manager (Gestor Ambiental) position, not only to comply with the legal imperative that every institution must have this type of position, but also to promote the institutional environmental policy developed by the Judiciary Environmental Affairs Committee. b) Should the Environmental Manager position be created, the competent and expert administrative body, i.e., the Planning Directorate, is responsible for determining its placement within the Judiciary’s organizational structure. c) Should the position of Environmental Manager be created by the cited Directorate, the classification and valuation of the position will be in the broad class of Professional 2, narrow class Environmental Manager (Gestor Ambiental). d) To create the narrow class of “Environmental Manager” (Gestor Ambiental) as presented in Annex No. 1 of this report. 2.) To accept the agreement adopted by the Environmental Affairs Committee and forward it to the Planning Directorate for it to conduct the study on the implementation, administration, and follow-up of the Institutional Environmental Management Program (PGAI) for the years 2014 and following, and to request an extension from MINAE to comply with the institutional commitments before that Ministry. 3.) Because this Branch of the Republic is budgetarily constrained, to request the Planning Directorate to redistribute positions.\"\n\n- 0 -\n\nSubsequently, in session No. 8-15 of January 29, 2015, article II, in accordance with the provisions of article 44, fourth paragraph of the Organic Law of the Judiciary (Ley Orgánica del Poder Judicial), leave with pay and substitution was granted to licenciado Arnoldo Mora Alvarado, Professional 2 in the Forensic Sciences Laboratory Department, position No. 359362, effective February 16, 2015, and for up to six months, in order to redefine the Institutional Environmental Management System of the Judiciary. The foregoing on the understanding that licenciado Mora Alvarado is the one who will carry out the functions indicated, by reason of what was ordered by the Corte Plena through the agreement adopted in session No. 57-14 held on December 8, 2014, article XXV, regarding the legality or not of creating positions when granting leave with pay to an official, as well as the practice of \"making extraordinary positions ordinary\" (ordinariar), when these are supposedly created for an exceptional situation, the disappearance of which entails the elimination of those positions.\n\nIt was agreed: 1) To communicate to Magistrate Carmenmaría Escoto Fernández, in her capacity as President of the Environmental Affairs Committee, that due to the legal obligations that this Council has as a body subordinate to the Corte Plena, any appointment made under article 44 of the Organic Law of the Judiciary must conform to what was ordered by the Corte Plena in session No. 57-14 held on December 8, 2014, article XXV; by reason of the foregoing, it is not currently feasible to grant the appointment proposal she makes; however, being aware of the legal obligations that this Branch of the Republic has assumed in environmental matters, the request of the cited committee is forwarded to the Corte Plena for it to resolve as it deems appropriate. 2.) To make this agreement known to the Environmental Commission.\"\n\n- 0 -\n\nThe floor is granted to Magistrate Escoto, who states: “This Environmental Manager (Gestor Ambiental) position is an urgent need for the Judiciary, in order to comply with the laws that so establish it.\n\nIt would be disastrous for the Judiciary not to be able to comply, so we have an entire program for which we have made efforts in environmental matters and an environmental policy established by the former President, Exmagistrate Mr. Óscar González, and which I was supportive of implementing, to comply with the laws that so order it. Given that what is traditionally known as ‘twinning’ (gemelear) positions is prohibited, it was impossible for the Consejo Superior to achieve what the President, Magistrate Villanueva, very wisely summarized.\n\nTherefore, we request from the Environmental Affairs Committee the creation of the Environmental Manager (Gestor Ambiental) position, because it is an order given by law in the strict sense, which obliges us to have it.\n\nThe Consejo Superior also had, as was indicated, a profile requested for what was needed, and among the tasks that this Environmental Manager should carry out is that of the approved Environmental Management Plan (Plan de Gestión Ambiental).\n\nI would like to see how we could contribute to this, because for the Institution, which in many fields has been an example in complying with matters of national interest, and not only for Costa Rica but at the Ibero-American level, as we can observe in the State of the Nation report, the environmental issue is essential and is also one of the topics at Summits. I vehemently request the possibility that this be feasible.\n\nThere was no possibility with licenciado Arnoldo Mora Alvarado, Professional 2, who had been managing from his office in the Forensic Sciences Laboratory Department, because he does not meet the desired profile, so the position would have to be created, if you see fit, and analyze how to fill it with people who meet that profile to put it out for competitive recruitment (concurso).\n\nI leave this concern with you, on the understanding that if this were not feasible, I would be the first to have to tell you: I resign from this Committee and we would have to close it down, for this and other weighty reasons, as Master Patricia Bonilla Rodríguez, Professional in Projects of the Judiciary, was the one who made great efforts to achieve the goals and follow up on all the agreements and executions we had, along with the group of people nationally, because we created various environmental management initiatives in different areas such as Grecia and Turrialba, to continue with this program, which is so important and so current.\n\nI leave this concern with you to analyze how we create the Environmental Manager (Gestor o Gestora Ambiental) position that various laws oblige us to have.”\n\nMagistrate Vega states: “I want to raise a question regarding what Magistrate Escoto has said, because, as I understood it, the idea is, if the position is created, to put it out for competitive recruitment (concurso), but the proposal in the agreement is to appoint Engineer Susana Picado Jiménez. That is the doubt I have: whether what is proposed is creating a position to put it out for competitive recruitment, or creating a position with a specific name for a person, which I would find inadvisable.”\n\nMagistrate Escoto states: “Internally, the Committee considered that Ms. Susana Picado Jiménez, a Chemical Engineer, who had been working on a meritorious basis and providing us with great help, was the ideal person. But, observing that the Consejo Superior could not make the readjustment, we would have to put it out for competitive recruitment (concurso) out of respect for the law.\n\nThis was directed to the Consejo Superior with the hope that the position could be ‘cloned,’ having a person with a suitable profile who performed incredibly for the Committee and who was not the Head of the office where she had been providing her services. However, when proceeding before the Court and since it was not a leave with pay under article 44 of the Organic Law of the Judiciary, from that office where she had been working in a position, we could say on a meritorious basis, but doing incredible work, we thought it would be no problem for the Consejo Superior to grant the leave in the office where Engineer Susana Picado works, for whom I have the highest recommendations from the entire Committee; however, once the position is created, it seems to me that it would indeed have to be put out for competitive recruitment (concurso).”\n\nMagistrate Castillo states: “The decision of the Consejo Superior was based on the fact that a leave with pay was being requested to appoint a person, which seems a reasonable decision to me.\n\nI have always been of the opinion that when a leave with pay is granted, it is neither advisable nor legally appropriate to appoint a person to that position. Therefore, I would regrettably vote against what is proposed by Magistrate Escoto.”\n\nMagistrate Arroyo intervenes: “I was present at the Consejo Superior session where Magistrate Escoto’s request was considered. As far as I understood at that time, it was effectively through the practice of leaves with pay, in accordance with article 44 of the Organic Law of the Judiciary, to obtain the services of that official. However, what the Consejo Superior decided was, first, that we did not consider it possible, given this Court's decision to prohibit the use of said article in that form for ordinary functions, which this case would be, since it would be attending to a program—while admittedly new, these would be ordinary functions—and what would be appropriate would be to discuss its creation starting from the 2016 budget.\n\nMagistrate Escoto is indeed correct; there is a legal obligation for the Institution to have that position to address environmental matters.\n\nSo, with the matter clarified by Magistrate Escoto, in the sense that it would not be a matter of appointing the person who has been acting as Environmental Manager (Gestora Ambiental), and moreover in the capacity of not even receiving a salary, that is, as an ad honorem official, I would understand that first the position must be created, and second, the person to be appointed to it must be defined at the appropriate time.\n\nI believe that Magistrate Escoto's proposal should be endorsed by all, because as I understand it – and if I am mistaken, please correct me – this situation would be normalized starting with the 2016 budget, through a call for a competitive recruitment (concurso) in which Ms. Susana, like any other person, could participate.”\n\nMagistrate Castillo adds: “In the terms set out by Magistrate Arroyo, the proposal seems reasonable to me, and if to comply with that legal obligation it is necessary to create a position, I think it is reasonable, and more than reasonable, legally it is the case that once the position is created, it must be put out for competitive recruitment (concurso), and based on that, the most suitable person will be chosen.\n\nIn those terms, I would be voting in favor; what I could not vote for was the other proposal, in the terms I already explained.”\n\nMagistrate Pereira states: “This Court would endorse the proposal that the Consejo Superior and the Planning Department (Departamento de Planificación) take into account the creation of said position for 2016, because I understand that for the second half of this year we would be unable, as it is not budgeted.”\n\nThe President, Magistrate Villanueva, states: “If there is no objection, we would forward the proposal to the Planning and Personnel Departments (Departamentos de Planificación y de Personal), so that they can determine the appropriate time for the creation of an Environmental Manager (Gestor o Gestora Ambiental) position and include it in the 2016 budget, this as an obligation, and in any case, the position will be put out for competitive recruitment (concurso).”\n\nWithout any objection, it was ordered: To forward what was proposed by the Environmental Affairs Committee to the Planning and Personnel Departments, so that jointly they analyze the creation of an Environmental Manager (Gestor o Gestora Ambiental) position and determine the appropriate time for it, or that it be included in the budget for 2016, in order to follow up on the legal imperatives of the Environmental Management Plan (Plan de Gestión Ambiental) that the Judiciary must comply with, with the indication that once said position is created, it must be put out for competitive recruitment (concurso).\n\nMora does not meet the proposed profile to hold the position of environmental manager as previously indicated, given that his academic background is in Industrial Engineering. Moreover, the substantive duties of Engineer Mora are those of a production control engineer in the Department of Forensic Sciences, and the possibility of using the position number he occupies arose, as previously indicated, because it corresponds to a position of the same broad class as the one proposed for environmental manager, and no equivalent narrow class will be found throughout the institution because it is a newly created profile.\n\nConsequently, and given the impact that the Department of Forensic Sciences would suffer, we request that the agreement be nullified in the terms in which it was approved, and the ideal would be to create the environmental manager position with the requirements demanded by the post during the project's validity period.\n\nIn the same vein, we respectfully ask you to analyze the institutional viability of having a Professional 2 position that can execute the special project “Redesign of the Institutional Environmental Management System” during this year 2015, as we are concerned about failing to comply with the legal obligation established in the following laws: Ley Gestión Integral de los Residuos (Ley 8839), Ley General de Salud (Ley 5395), Ley Orgánica del Ambiente (7554), and Ley de Regulación del Uso Racional de la Energía (7447).\n\nAs has already been mentioned, in order to ensure the project's successful execution and the achievement of the expected environmental results, a person with a previously defined profile is required; therefore, the Commission has already agreed to request the creation of the Environmental Manager (Gestor o Gestora Ambiental) position for 2016.\n\nWe remain at the disposal of this Honorable Council to address any query or information required, in order to secure the professional person in the shortest possible time.”\n\n- 0 -\n\n**Magistrate Carmenmaría Escoto Fernández, in her capacity as President of the Environmental Affairs Commission, by official memorandum N CMEF-CAAMB-002-2015 of February 25, 2015, communicated the following:**\n\n“Warm greetings. Subsequently, in my capacity as President of the Environmental Affairs Commission, I wish to make the following additions and clarifications to memorandum CMEF-CAAMB-001-2015:\n\nFirstly, I wish to indicate that this Commission, faced with the potential impact on the Department of Forensic Sciences, decided to ask the Superior Council to nullify the leave with pay and substitution granted starting February 16, 2015, for up to six months, to Mr. Arnoldo Mora Alvarado, who occupies position No. 359362, Professional 2, in that Department.\n\nHowever, it is important to clarify that at no time was the suspension of the project called “Redesign of the Institutional Environmental Management System” ever intended. On the contrary, we reiterate the urgency of appointing an Environmental Manager in the Judiciary, hence our petition is for the interposition of your good offices to analyze the institutional viability of having a broad-band Professional 2 position, in which the aforementioned project can be executed during this year 2015. This is due to our concern to comply as soon as possible with the legal obligation established in the following laws: Ley Gestión Integral de los Residuos (Ley 8839), Ley General de Salud (Ley 5395), Ley Orgánica del Ambiente (7554), and Ley de Regulación del Uso Racional de la Energía (7447).\n\nSecondly, we respectfully request that when such a position becomes available, Engineer Susana Picado Jiménez, ID No. 1-1413-0484, a chemical engineer, be appointed to it. She has meritoriously served as Environmental Manager in the Department of Forensic Sciences of the Judicial City, San Joaquín de Flores, since November 12, 2014; and she has demonstrated the knowledge, excellent aptitude, and profile to optimally fulfill the position.\n\nAs has already been mentioned, the immediate procurement of this position and its subsequent creation, as well as the appointment of Engineer Picado Jiménez, is, in the Commission's judgment, fundamental to complying with what is established by the legal system and ensuring the project's successful execution and the achievement of the expected results in environmental matters.\n\nWe remain at the disposal of this Honorable Council for any query or information it may require.\n\n\n\nFrom the members of the Superior Council, with gratitude and respect,”\n\n- 0 -\n\nIn session No. 91-14, held on October 16, 2014, article LXXV, an agreement was reached whose operative part literally states:\n\n***“It was agreed: 1.)** To accept the report of the Human Resources Management Directorate as submitted and to adopt the recommendations directed to the Planning Directorate. Therefore: **a)** That the Planning Directorate evaluate the creation of the Environmental Manager (Gestor Ambiental) position, not only to comply with the legal imperative that every institution must have this type of position, but also to promote the institutional environmental policy developed by the Environmental Affairs Commission of the Judiciary. **b)** If the Environmental Manager position is created, the competent administrative body with expertise in the matter, that is, the Planning Directorate, is responsible for determining its placement within the organizational structure of the Judiciary. **c)** If the Environmental Manager position is created by the aforementioned Directorate, the position's classification and valuation shall be in the broad class of Professional 2, narrow class Environmental Manager. **d)** Create the narrow class “Environmental Manager” (Gestor Ambiental) as presented in Annex No. 1 of this report. **2.)** To adopt the agreement reached by the Environmental Affairs Commission and forward it to the Planning Directorate to conduct the implementation, administration, and follow-up study of the PGAI corresponding to the years 2014 and onwards, and to request an extension from MINAE to fulfill the institutional commitments before that Ministry. **3.)** Because this Branch of the Republic is budgetarily constrained, to request the Planning Directorate to redistribute positions.”*\n\n- 0 -\n\nSubsequently, in session No. 8-15 of January 29, 2015, article II, pursuant to the provisions of article 44, fourth paragraph, of the Ley Orgánica del Poder Judicial, a leave with pay and substitution was granted to Mr. Arnoldo Mora Alvarado, Professional 2 of the Department of Forensic Sciences Laboratory, position No. 359362, starting February 16, 2015, for up to six months, so that he may redefine the Institutional Environmental Management System of the Judiciary. The foregoing on the understanding that it is Mr. Mora Alvarado who will carry out the indicated functions, by reason of the provisions of the Corte Plena by an agreement reached in session No. 57-14 held on December 8, 2014, article XXV, regarding the legality or not of creating positions when a leave with pay is granted to an official, as well as the practice of making extraordinary positions permanent (\"ordinariar\"), when it is assumed that these are created for an exceptional situation, which once disappeared, entails the elimination of those positions.\n\n**It was agreed: 1)** To inform Magistrate Carmenmaría Escoto Fernández, in her capacity as President of the Environmental Affairs Commission, that due to the legal obligations this Council has as a body subordinate to the Corte Plena, any appointment made in light of article 44 of the Ley Orgánica del Poder Judicial must conform to the provisions of the Corte Plena in session No. 57-14 held on December 8, 2014, article XXV; for this reason, it is currently not feasible to accede to the proposed appointments. However, being aware of the legal obligations this Branch of the Republic has undertaken in environmental matters, the management of the aforementioned commission is transferred to the knowledge of the Corte Plena to resolve as it deems appropriate. **2.)** To make this agreement known to the Environmental Commission.”\n\n- 0 -\n\nThe floor is granted to Magistrate Escoto, who states: “This Environmental Manager position is an urgency for the Judiciary, in order to comply with the laws that so establish.\n\nIt would be disastrous for the Judiciary not to be able to comply, so there is an entire program for which we have made efforts in environmental matters and an environmental policy established by the former President, former Magistrate Mr. Óscar González, to which I was receptive, to comply with the laws that so order. Given that what is traditionally known as duplicating positions (gemelar plazas) is prohibited, it was impossible for the Superior Council to achieve what the President, Magistrate Villanueva, very wisely summarized.\n\nTherefore, from the Environmental Affairs Commission, we request the creation of the Environmental Manager position, because it is an order given by law in the strict sense, which obliges us to have it.\n\nThe Superior Council also had, because this was indicated, a profile that was requested of us regarding what was needed, and among the tasks this Environmental Manager should fulfill is the approved Environmental Management Plan.\n\nI would like to see how we could contribute to this, because for the Institution, which in many fields has been an example in compliance with issues of interest to the country and not only for Costa Rica but throughout Latin America, as observed in the State of the Nation report, the environmental issue is essential and is also one of the topics at Summits. I vehemently request the possibility that this be feasible.\n\nThere was no possibility with Mr. Arnoldo Mora Alvarado, Professional 2, who had been managing from the office where he works, in the Department of Forensic Sciences Laboratory, since he does not meet the desired profile. Therefore, the position would have to be created, if you see fit, and we would analyze how to staff it with individuals who meet that profile to open it for a competitive selection process (concurso).\n\nI leave this concern with you, understanding that if this were not feasible, I would be the first to have to tell you, I resign from this Commission and we would have to close it, for this and other weighty reasons, including that it was Master Patricia Bonilla Rodríguez, Projects Professional of the Judiciary, who made a great effort to achieve the goals and follow up on all the agreements and executions we had, as well as the group of people nationwide, because we created several environmental management offices (gestiones ambientales) in different areas such as Grecia and Turrialba, to continue with this very important and highly current program.\n\nI leave the concern with you to analyze how we create the Environmental Manager (Gestor o Gestora Ambiental) position that various laws require us to have.”\n\nMagistrate Vega states: “I want to raise a doubt regarding what Magistrate Escoto stated, because as I understood it, the idea is, if the position is created, to open a competitive selection process, but the proposal in the agreement is to appoint Engineer Susana Picado Jiménez. That is the doubt I have: whether the proposal is to create a position to open a competitive selection process, or whether a position is to be created with a specific name for a person, which would seem inadvisable to me.”\n\nMagistrate Escoto indicates: “Internally, the Commission considered that Ms. Susana Picado Jiménez, a Chemical Engineer, who had been working in a meritorious capacity and providing us with great help, was the suitable person. However, upon observing that it was not the Superior Council that could make the readjustment, we would have to open it for a competitive selection process out of respect for the law.\n\nThis was directed to the Superior Council in the hope that the position could be duplicated, having a person with a suitable profile, who performed incredibly for the Commission and was not the head of the office where she had been providing her services. However, when processing this before the Corte and as it is not a case of leave with pay in accordance with article 44 of the Ley Orgánica del Poder Judicial from the office where she had been serving in a position—which we could call meritorious but performing an incredible job—we thought it would be no problem for the Superior Council to grant the leave in the office where Engineer Susana Picado works, of whom I have the highest recommendations from the entire Commission. However, once the position is created, it seems to me that it must indeed be opened for a competitive selection process.”\n\nMagistrate Castillo states: “The Superior Council's decision was based on the fact that a leave with pay was being requested to appoint a person, which seems a reasonable decision to me.\n\nI have always been of the view that when a leave with pay is granted, it is neither advisable nor legally proper to appoint a person to that position, so I would unfortunately be voting against what was proposed by Magistrate Escoto.”\n\nMagistrate Arroyo interjects: “It was my lot to be in the Superior Council session where Magistrate Escoto's request was heard. As far as I understood at that moment, it was indeed through the practice of leaves with pay, in accordance with the provisions of article 44 of the Ley Orgánica del Poder Judicial, to have the services of that official. However, what the Superior Council decided was, firstly, we did not consider it possible, given the decision of this Corte to prohibit the use of the cited article in that mode for ordinary functions—and this would be the case, because it would be attending to a program. Although it is certainly new, these would be ordinary functions, and the proper course would be to discuss its creation starting from the 2016 budget.\n\nMagistrate Escoto is indeed right; there is a legal obligation for the Institution to have that position to address the environmental issue.\n\nTherefore, the matter having been clarified by Magistrate Escoto, meaning that it would not be a matter of appointing the person who has been acting as Environmental Manager, and furthermore in the condition of not even receiving a salary—that is, as an ad honorem official—I understand that the position must first be created, and second, the person to be appointed to it must be defined in due course.\n\nI believe that Magistrate Escoto's proposal should be endorsed by all of us because as I understand—and if I am mistaken, please correct me—this situation would be normalized starting from the 2016 budget, through a call for a competitive selection process where Ms. Susana, like any other person, could participate.”\n\nMagistrate Castillo adds: “In the terms stated by Magistrate Arroyo, the proposal seems reasonable to me, and if creating a position is necessary to comply with that legal obligation, I deem it reasonable—and more than reasonable, legally it is so—that once the position is created, it must be opened for a competitive selection process, and based on that, the most suitable person will be chosen.\n\nIn those terms, I would indeed vote in favor. What I could not vote for was the other proposal, in the terms I already explained.”\n\nMagistrate Pereira states: “This Corte would endorse the proposal for the Superior Council and the Planning Department to consider the creation of said position for 2016, because I understand that for the second half of this year, we would be unable, as it is not budgeted.”\n\nPresident Magistrate Villanueva indicates: “If there is no objection, we would refer the proposal to the Planning and Personnel Departments so they can determine the appropriate time for the creation of an Environmental Manager (Gestor o Gestora Ambiental) position and include it in the 2016 budget, indeed as an obligation, and in any case, the position will be opened for a competitive selection process.”\n\nWithout any objection, **it was ordered:** To forward what was raised by the Environmental Affairs Committee (Comisión de Asuntos Ambientales) to the Planning and Personnel Departments, so that they jointly analyze the creation of an Environmental Manager position and determine the opportune moment for it, or, to include it within the budget for 2016, in order to follow up on the legal imperatives of the Institutional Environmental Management Plan (Plan de Gestión Ambiental) that the Judicial Branch must comply with, with the indication that once said position is created, it must be opened for competition.\n\nHowever, when it was managed before the Court and since it was not a leave with pay pursuant to Article 44 of the Ley Orgánica del Poder Judicial, from that office where she had been serving in a position, which we could call a meritorious one, but performing incredible work, we thought that for the Consejo Superior there was no problem granting the leave in the office where Engineer Susana Picado works, of whom I have the highest recommendations from the entire Commission; nevertheless, once the position is created, it seems to me that it would indeed have to be opened for competition.\"\n\nMagistrate Castillo states: \"The decision of the Consejo Superior was based on the fact that a leave with pay was being requested to appoint a person, which seems to me a reasonable decision.\n\nI have always been of the view that when a leave with pay is granted, it is neither advisable nor legally proper to appoint a person to that position, so I would unfortunately be voting against what was proposed by Magistrate Escoto.\"\n\nMagistrate Arroyo intervenes: \"It fell to me to be in the session of the Consejo Superior where Magistrate Escoto's request was heard. As far as I understood at that moment, it was indeed through the practice of leaves with pay in accordance with the provisions of Article 44 of the Ley Orgánica del Poder Judicial, in order to have the services of that official. However, what the Consejo Superior decided was, firstly, we did not consider it possible, given this Court's decision to prohibit the use of the cited article in that modality for ordinary functions, which this case would be, because it would involve attending to a program, although certainly new, it would be ordinary functions and what would be appropriate was to discuss its creation starting from the 2016 budget.\n\nMagistrate Escoto is indeed correct; there is a legal obligation that the Institution must have that position, to address the environmental matter.\n\nTherefore, with the matter clarified by Magistrate Escoto, in the sense that it would not involve appointing the person who has been acting as Environmental Manager, but additionally under the condition of not even receiving a salary, that is, as an ad honorem official, I would understand that first the position must be created, and, secondly, the person to be appointed to it must be defined in due course.\n\nI believe that Magistrate Escoto's proposal should be endorsed by all of us, because as I understand it – and if I am mistaken I beg you to correct me – this situation would be normalized starting from the 2016 budget, through the call for a competition where Ms. Susana, like any other person, could participate.\"\n\nMagistrate Castillo adds: \"In the terms that Magistrate Arroyo has pointed out, the proposal seems reasonable to me, and if to fulfill that legal obligation it is necessary to create a position, I deem it reasonable and, more than reasonable, legally it is so, that once the position is created it must be opened for competition and from that, the most suitable person will be chosen.\n\nIn those terms I would indeed be voting in favor; what I could not vote for was the other proposal, for the reasons I already explained.\"\n\nMagistrate Pereira states: \"This Court would endorse the proposal that the Consejo Superior and the Planning Department take into account the creation of said position for 2016, because I understand that for the second half of this year we would be unable to, as it is not budgeted.\"\n\nPresidenta, Magistrate Villanueva, indicates: \"If there is no objection, we would forward the proposal to the Planning and Personnel Departments, so that they determine the opportune time for the creation of an Environmental Manager position and it be included in the 2016 budget, this as an obligation and in any case the position will be opened for competition.\"\n\nWithout any objection, it was resolved: To forward what was proposed by the Environmental Affairs Commission to the Planning and Personnel Departments, so that they jointly analyze the creation of an Environmental Manager position and determine the opportune time for it, or, that it be included within the budget for 2016, in order to follow up on the legal imperatives of the Environmental Management Plan that the Poder Judicial must fulfill, with the indication that once said position is created it must be opened for competition."
}