Julieta Makintach, the Argentine judge at the center of a scandal that led to the collapse of the trial over the death of football legend Diego Maradona, has resigned. Her lawyer confirmed the resignation on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
Makintach's involvement in a clandestine documentary about the trial of Maradona's medical team triggered the proceedings to be scrapped in May after two months of hearings. She faced impeachment proceedings over her participation in the documentary about the case against seven medical staff accused of manslaughter over Maradona's death.
The remaining members of the San Isidro 3rd Criminal Court, Maximiliano Savarino and Verónica Di Tommaso, annulled the trial on May 29. Savarino stated that Makintach had engaged in “multiple discussions with witnesses and lawyers” during breaks in the daily proceedings, which he said was "in detriment of all parts, and marking the nullity of the debate.”
In a letter to the governor of Buenos Aires, Makintach wrote, “I have the honor of addressing you in my capacity as judge in order to submit my resignation from my position.” She also expressed regret for the “profound institutional and social impact” of her actions on a “very sensitive” trial and stated that she believed her resignation would help restore confidence in the judiciary. Makintach was also under a 90-day suspension from duties by the Buenos Aires Province Supreme Court. If her resignation is accepted, the impeachment case would be dismissed.
Prosecutors had alleged gross negligence in the conditions of Maradona's home convalescence. Maradona, who led Argentina to the World Cup title in 1986, died in November 2020 at the age of 60 while recovering from brain surgery. He died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema — a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs — two weeks after going under the knife.
A new court for the case was designated via random draw on June 19, falling to the San Isidro 7th Criminal Court, headed by Roberto Gaig, Alejandro Lago, and María Cohelo. However, Cohelo chose to step down due to her involvement in another case involving one of the accused in Maradona’s death, nurse Dahiana Madrid. Cohelo will be replaced by Judge Alberto Ortolani, but there is no date for the start of the proceedings yet.
