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An Argentine judge has been dismissed from her role after triggering a mistrial in the high-profile negligence case involving Diego Maradona’s medical team. Julieta Makintach, 48, was one of three judges overseeing the prosecution of seven healthcare professionals accused of contributing to the football legend’s death in 2020 while he was recovering from surgery for a blood clot.
Makintach stepped down from the case when it emerged that she had been interviewed for a miniseries about the trial—an action that appeared to breach multiple judicial ethics rules. Despite her recusal, the proceedings were scrapped entirely after two months of hearings and testimony from around 40 witnesses, including Maradona’s daughters.
On Tuesday, a special disciplinary panel comprising judges, lawyers and provincial lawmakers removed Makintach from the bench and barred her from holding any judicial role in future. Maradona, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest icons, died aged 60 from heart failure and acute pulmonary oedema two weeks after undergoing surgery. He was discovered dead in his bed by a nurse on duty.
The medical team responsible for his post-operative care is accused of allowing him to recuperate at a private residence with inadequate monitoring and equipment rather than in a medical facility. Prosecutors allege Maradona suffered grossly negligent treatment and was effectively “abandoned” during a prolonged period leading up to his death. If convicted of “homicide with possible intent”, the defendants face prison sentences ranging from eight to 25 years.
A new trial has now been scheduled for 17 March 2026 with a different panel of judges.
Makintach had initially denied taking part in or approving any filming for a documentary. However, footage later circulated in the Argentine press appeared to show her being interviewed on the eve of the trial. Prosecutors accused her of exploiting state resources for personal gain, and the disciplinary panel found her guilty of negligence, dereliction of duty, breaching confidentiality and abusing her authority.
She told the panel she believed the interview—requested by a friend—was informal and had not realised it was destined for a documentary. Apologising for what she described as a “mistake”, she said she was “sorry a thousand times” to Maradona’s family for not being able to deliver justice.
A trailer for the documentary, Divine Justice, was shown in court before her recusal. It depicted Makintach walking through court corridors in high heels while sombre details of Maradona’s final days were narrated. The footage sparked outrage and appeared to include unauthorised recordings made inside the courtroom.
Guillermo Sagues, of the San Isidro Bar Association and one of the complainants against her, said the judge’s behaviour had “ridiculed” Argentina’s judicial system. Her legal team declined to comment.
