Cynthia Valstein-Montnor

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Cynthia Valstein-Montnor
Bornc. 1955 [1]
Suriname
Occupation(s)lawyer, jurist
Known for December murders trail

Cynthia Valstein-Montnor (c. 1955) is a Surinamese judge. She was the acting president of the High Court of Justice of Suriname from 2011 until 2014. [2] [3] Alongside this role she was also the presiding judge officiating the Military Court, regarding the murder-trial of President Desi Bouterse and his role in the December murders. [4]

Biography

Valstein-Montnor was born in Suriname. In 1973, she started studying law at the University of Utrecht and Amsterdam. She wrote her thesis on the Trade Agreement of Lomé. She returned to Suriname in the 1980s and worked as a jurist at the Foreign Ministry. [5]

In 1993 Valstein-Montnor started a RAIO-course (judge in training) together with four other candidates. She graduated as the sole candidate, and in 1997 was appointed as the first woman judge in Suriname. [6]

On 30 November 2007, the Court-martial of the December murders commenced, and Valstein-Montnor was appointed presiding judge. The main suspect was former President Desi Bouterse. [7] In 2019, Bouterse was convicted to 20 year imprisonment for murder. [8]

On 1 January 2011 Valstein-Montnor was appointed acting president of the High Court of Justice of Suriname. [2] In 2014, she resigned as president, but remained vice president of the court. [3] In 2022 Valstein-Montnor was awarded the Pioneering Caribbean Women Jurist Award for her achievements in the field of justice. [9]

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References

  1. ↑ "De rechter die geschiedenis schrijft in Suriname" . NRC (in Dutch). 31 December 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2022. Valstein-Montnor was 63 in 2018
  2. 1 2 "Starnieuws - Cynthia Valstein-Montnor wnd president Hof Justitie". www.starnieuws.com. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Valstein-Montnor blijft vicepresident HvJ en president Krijgsraad". GFC Nieuws (in Dutch). 31 March 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "Stalled murder trial back on for president of Suriname". AP News. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Een dappere rechter in Suriname" . Trouw (in Dutch). 8 February 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  6. ↑ "Vierentwintig jaar vrouwelijke rechters in Suriname". Dagblad de West (in Dutch). 24 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  7. ↑ "Standkrachtige vrouwen oordelen over Bouterse". Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant (in Dutch). 5 August 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  8. ↑ "Breaking News: Twintig jaar cel voor Bouterse". Suriname Herald (in Dutch). 29 November 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  9. ↑ "Internationale award voor rechter Valstein-Montnor". Sun.sr (via Suriname Nieuws Centrale) (in Dutch). 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
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