Proximity justice in the construction of public order in the city of Buenos Aires (1833)

Abstract

The rioplatense justice of the peace had a "hinge" character, as the lay judges were compelled to respond politically to the government that appointed them while simultaneously responding to the demands of their clients. When the justices of the peace were lacking this dual legitimacy, conflicts of governance arose in the city's quarters. This article examines the role of the justices of the peace in the governance of the city of Buenos Aires during the pivotal political juncture of the construction of Rosista power, known as the Revolution of the Restorers. This study examines the role of justices of the peace and neighborhood mayors in maintaining public order. It focuses on the justices of the peace that registered the most conflictive episodes during 1833: San Nicolás, Socorro and San Telmo. The electoral record of the Catedral al Norte magistrate's court, compiled after the Revolution, offers insight into the shifting positioning of political actors and the emergence of new profiles among agents associated with the dominant governor, Juan Manuel de Rosas. In conclusion, this study will examine the significance attributed to the events of 1833 in the selection of the justices of proximity during the second Rosista administration.