On 28 August 2023, Claudia González Orellana was arrested at her residence under circumstances that suggest retaliation for her work. Two years later, her judicial process remains unresolved, yet her determination continues to inspire all lawyers who stand for human rights and the rule of law across Guatemala and beyond.
A lifetime dedicated to justice
With over 25 years of experience, Claudia González has devoted her career to defending human rights and strengthening the rule of law. At the Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of Guatemala, she supported vulnerable individuals facing grave violations. As part of the Myrna Mack Foundation, she pursued emblematic cases such as the prosecution of military officials responsible for the assassination of anthropologist Myrna Mack, who was murdered for exposing state violence against Guatemala’s Indigenous Maya population.
Ms. González later served as a representative of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), where she played a vital role in anti-corruption cases. After the CICIG was dismantled in 2019, she acted as defense counsel for several former justice officials under investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Her courage and dedication were internationally recognized in 2023, when she received the Lawyers for Lawyers Award, granted by an independent jury.
In August 2023, however, Ms. González herself became the target of criminal proceedings. She was arrested and charged with abuse of authority in connection with her work at CICIG. After spending 82 days in detention, she has remained under house arrest since November 2023. Reflecting on this ordeal, she remarked:
“I was arbitrarily detained for defending other lawyers (…) We were surprised by the fact that there was an arrest warrant against me for my work (…) It was very hard to cope with such an unjust accusation.”
Fair trial violations
Since her arrest, the proceedings against Ms. González have been plagued by repeated delays and irregularities, raising serious concerns about compliance with both Guatemalan law and international human rights standards. Hearings have frequently been postponed, at times due to the absence of the Public Prosecutor, and at others because they were scheduled well beyond the timeframes permitted under national procedural rules. The most recent hearing took place on 12 August 2025, while the next one has been scheduled for September 2026—more than a year later.
Reflecting on this drawn-out process, Ms. González remarked: “A process that should take a year-and-a-half or two, is not even halfway. After two years, there is still a long way to go”.
Pre-trial detention was ordered against Ms. González without any individualized risk assessment or careful evaluation of its necessity and proportionality. Instead, the court relied on vague, general references to the Criminal Procedure Code, falling short of international standards that require clear and specific reasoning for such restrictive measures.
Ms. González’s right to an adequate defense has also been systematically undermined. The presiding judge repeatedly denied requests from her legal team to access key documents in the judicial file, including official reports and audio recordings essential to the preparation of her defense. In response, Ms. González presented a motion to recuse the judge for lack of impartiality, but this motion was denied, deepening concerns over judicial independence and fairness in her case. The imbalance of arms was further highlighted in August 2025, when the judge admitted most of the prosecution’s evidence while rejecting much of the defense’s submissions.
Unwavering commitment with justice
Despite the relentless obstacles, González remains steadfast. Reinforcing her commitment to improving justice in Guatemala despite these obstacles, he stated:
“We must encourage the justice system to rule correctly and that can only be done from the inside.”
The case against Claudia González Orellana highlights the precarious situation faced by human rights lawyers in Guatemala. Her prolonged detention, repeated procedural irregularities, and restricted access to a fair trial reveal systemic challenges within the judicial system and the urgent need for action. It also reflects broader issues of judicial independence being undermined by political pressures, threatening the foundational principles of justice and the rule of law in Guatemala.
As we mark the second anniversary of her detention, Lawyers for Lawyers reaffirms its solidarity with Claudia González Orellana and its support for her courageous struggle for justice and human rights. In her own words:
“We can come together as a society, as lawyers, and promote actions that can improve justice in Guatemala. This is what I hope and wish for in Guatemala.”
