Fernando Rabat
Fernando Rabat | |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Justice and Human Rights | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Jaime Gajardo Falcón |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1973 (age 52–53) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Fernando Rabat Celis is a Chilean lawyer and scholar who has been appointed Minister of Justice and Human Rights in the incoming government of President-elect José Antonio Kast.[1][2][3]
Rabat is an independent lawyer and a professor of civil law at University of Development. He holds a law degree from Universidad de los Andes and has developed his professional career primarily in private legal practice and academia.[3]
Career
[4]Fernando Rabat was awarded the "Faculty of Law Award" from the University of Los Andes, for the student with the best performance in the program, and received the "Estudio Claro y Cía." award, for the student with the best performance in civil law.
As a member of a private law firm associated with lawyer Pablo Rodríguez Grez, and former president of the Chilean Bar Association Pedro Pablo Vergara, he participated in legal teams involved in the defense of former head of state Augusto Pinochet, including proceedings related to the Riggs Bank case and litigation connected to investigations arising from Colombo Operation.[3]
He also took part in legal actions representing Lucía Hiriart, including a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to overturn a 2018 ruling that ordered the forfeiture of financial assets and properties linked to Pinochet.[3]
During the administration of former President Sebastián Piñera (2018-2022), he served on the Board of the Legal Aid Corporation (CAJ). Rabat is a professor of Civil Law at the Development University.[5]
References
- ^ "Fernando Rabat (Ind), ministro de justicia: la incursión política del abogado que defendió a Pinochet" (in Spanish). La Tercera. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ "Profesor Fernando Rabat es nombrado ministro de Justicia y Derechos Humanos" (in Spanish). University for Development. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Fernando Rabat, the former lawyer of dictator Pinochet who will assume the Ministry of Justice". DiarioUsach.cl. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ^ https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/fernando-rabat-ind-nuevo-ministro-de-justicia-la-incursion-politica-del-abogado-que-defendio-a-pinochet/
- ^ https://derecho.udd.cl/noticias/2026/01/profesor-fernando-rabat-es-nombrado-ministro-de-justicia-y-derechos-humanos/