Conviction against Ecuador due to court rape, is asked

Representatives of the judges of the Supreme Court of Ecuador dismissed by the Congress in 2004 asked the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACourtHR) a conviction against the State to guarantee judicial independence.

“It is essential that this Court pick standards of judicial independence to help the historical memory of a country that can not resist more violations of its rule of law,” said David Cordero, who represents the plaintiffs.

Cordero expects a verdict by the Inter-American Court to change the legal culture of the country and to offers “guarantees of non-repetition” because “the Ecuadorian political class must understand that justice eventually will come along and talk back.”

State representatives were willing to offer a “full compensation” to former judges but not reinstatement in their former posts, because since 2008 the Court’s constitutional framework has changed.

Past events

People requesting the dismissal of the 27 judges in Gutierrez’ Government.

On December 8, 2004, by initiative of the government of Lucio Gutierrez, the 27 judges of the Court were replaced after a vote in Parliament ratified by a simple majority.