Julio César Strassera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julio César Strassera
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| Born | September 18, 1933 Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina
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| Died | February 27, 2015 (aged 81) Buenos Aires, Argentina
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| Alma mater | University of Buenos Aires |
Julio César Strassera (born September 18, 1933 – died February 27, 2015) was an important Argentine lawyer and judge. He is best known for being the main prosecutor in a very important trial in 1985, called the Trial of the Juntas. This trial was a big step for Argentina as it moved from a military government to a democratic one. Strassera played a key role in bringing justice for serious human rights issues that happened during a difficult time in the country's history.
Contents
Life and Career
Early Years
Julio César Strassera was born in Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, in 1933. He went to a good school called Colegio San José. Later, he studied at the University of Buenos Aires. In 1963, he earned his law degree, which is like becoming a lawyer. Soon after, he started working in a federal court in Buenos Aires. He later became a federal prosecutor, which means he worked for the government to bring legal cases against people.
Working During a Difficult Time
Strassera was a federal prosecutor during a period in Argentina known as the "Dirty War." This was a time when the military government was in power. Many people were arrested or disappeared, and their families often asked for help from lawyers like Strassera. These requests were called Habeas Corpus inquiries.
During this time, Strassera faced many challenges. He had to deal with difficult cases involving people who were held as political prisoners. He also became a criminal court judge in 1981. He felt this was a step down, as he preferred to work on more important cases.
The Trial of the Juntas
Strassera became a prosecutor again after Raúl Alfonsín was elected president in 1983. President Alfonsín decided that the leaders of the former military government should be tried by a civilian court. This was a very important decision for Argentina. Strassera was chosen to be the main prosecutor for this historic trial.
He worked with Assistant Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo. Both men had worked in government roles during the military rule, but now they were tasked with prosecuting the former leaders for serious human rights abuses. It was a very challenging job. They had to gather evidence and testimony from many people, and there was a lot of pressure from those involved in the old government.
The trial officially began on April 22, 1985. Strassera presented many cases to the court. In total, 280 cases were heard, and 833 witnesses gave their statements. Even famous people like former President Alejandro Lanusse and writer Jorge Luis Borges testified. The trial focused on nine main leaders of the military government from 1976 to 1982.
On September 11, Strassera presented the charges against the nine defendants. He argued that each person's sentence should depend on their proven role in the cases heard by the court. The court later decided that sentences would be based on the role of each branch of the military.
Strassera gave his final speech on September 18, 1985. He ended with a powerful phrase that became famous in Argentina:
I wish to waive any claim to originality in closing this motion. I wish to use a phrase that is not my own, because it already belongs to all the Argentine people. Your Honors: Never again!
This phrase, "Never again!", became a symbol of the country's hope that such human rights abuses would never happen again.
Later Work
On December 9, 1985, the court announced its sentences. General Jorge Videla and Admiral Eduardo Massera were sentenced to life imprisonment. Three others received lighter sentences, and four were found not guilty due to lack of evidence. Many people who supported the trials were disappointed with these results. Later, some laws were passed that stopped more prosecutions, and the sentenced leaders were eventually pardoned by President Carlos Menem in 1989 and 1990.
After these pardons, Strassera resigned from his government jobs. He then joined the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights, which is a leading organization that works to protect human rights in Argentina. He continued to be an important voice for justice and human rights throughout his life.
Julio César Strassera passed away on February 27, 2015, at the age of 81. He is remembered for his courage and his crucial role in the Trial of the Juntas, which was a landmark event for human rights in Argentina.
See also
In Spanish: Julio César Strassera para niños
