Judge Graciela Dixon
at Panama City’s
Plaza Einstein—a
small park famous
for its 1968 statue of
Albert Einstein.
Improving the Rule of Law
By Graciela Dixon
ossibly one of the greatest
challenges I faced upon
being nominated to the
Supreme Court in 2005
were the expectations
placed on me. As the first Afro-
Panamanian woman to serve as chief
justice, my community and the Afro-
Antillean community hoped that this
would mark a dramatic, symbolic and
concrete change in their visibility and
rights. On the other hand, there were
those who were hoping I would fail.
And there were those who just held
their breath hoping nothing in my
performance would make them look bad.
And although I was confirmed in the
National Assembly with near unanimity,
my appointment generated all sorts of
professional and public criticisms. The
most aggressive were the caricatures that
appeared in newspapers, emphasizing
pejoratively my physical characteristics
as a black woman, my hairstyle, my
socioeconomic background, and also my
non-Panamanian lineage.
Some advised me to change the way
I wear my hair, urging me to “fix”
In deciding cases and writing opinions
I always tried to understand the
socioeconomic context of cases and the
implications of the decision. Regarding
Afro-Panamanian issues—given the
racial blending of our country—this was
always difficult. I viewed these cases as
opportunities to affirm the constitutional
principles of nondiscrimination.
“I always tried to understand the
socioeconomic context of cases and
the implications of the decision.”
Americas Quarterly SPRING 2012
69
