Carlos Cerda

Laureate Profile

Judge Carlos Cerda has been editorialized as the only judge in Chile to pursue cases of human rights abuse by the Pinochet regime while General Pinochet was in power. He issued indictments against members of the Chilean military and police, as well as civilian collaborators who engaged in kidnapping and murder. In standing up to the Pinochet regime, Cerda risked his career, the respect of his peers and was temporarily removed from the bench. Judge Cerda continues to this day to bring members of the Pinochet family to justice for corruption and tax evasion. He is widely admired as Chile’s leading legal scholar.