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Integrity Scorecard

2008 Assessment

Ecuador: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Ecuador: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Rule of Law
Indicators		Score
77	Is there an appeals mechanism for challenging criminal judgments?	67
78	Do judgments in the criminal system follow written law?	50
79	Are judicial decisions enforced by the state?	50
80	Is the judiciary able to act independently?	56
81	Are judges safe when adjudicating corruption cases?	0
82	Do citizens have equal access to the justice system?	32

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Is there an appeals mechanism for challenging criminal judgments?

77a: In law, there is a general right of appeal.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitución Política de la República del Ecuador Título III de los Derechos, Garantías y Deberes Capítulo 6 de las Garantías de los Derechos Sección Tercera del Amparo Art. 95

77b: In practice, appeals are resolved within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: DESCRÉDITO DE LA ACCIÓN DE AMPARO CONSTITUCIONAL, Dr. BAYARDO MORENO-PIEDRAHITA, Revista Judicial, [ LINK ]

La acción de amparo y de hábeas data: garantías de los derechos constitucionales y su nueva realidad jurídica, Galo Chiriboga Zambrano. [ LINK ]

77c: In practice, citizens can use the appeals mechanism at a reasonable cost.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: DESCRÉDITO DE LA ACCIÓN DE AMPARO CONSTITUCIONAL, Dr. BAYARDO MORENO-PIEDRAHITA, Revista Judicial, [ LINK ]

La acción de amparo y de hábeas data: garantías de los derechos constitucionales y su nueva realidad jurídica, Galo Chiriboga Zambrano. [ LINK ]

Do judgments in the criminal system follow written law?

78: In practice, do judgments in the criminal system follow written law?

Score:

100

Comments:

References: LA VÍCTIMA EN EL PROCESO PENAL, Dr. Manuel Viteri Olvera, Revista Judicial, [ LINK ]

Diversidad y Derechos Humanos-Un Desafío para la Administración de Justicia Penal-, Silvina Ramírez, Revista Aportes Andinos, [ LINK ]

Are judicial decisions enforced by the state?

79: In practice, are judicial decisions enforced by the state?

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Justicia debe basarse en independencia, transparencia, accesibilidad y efectividad, Entrevista Gustavo Jalhk Ministro de Justicia, Ecuador Inmediato, [ LINK ]

Independencia Judicial en el Ecuador, Luis Sánchez Baquerizo, [ LINK ]

Reporte de la Justicia - Ecuador, Centro de Estudios de Justicia de las Américas CEJA, [ LINK ]

Is the judiciary able to act independently?

80a: In law, the independence of the judiciary is guaranteed.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitución Política de la República del Ecuador Título VIII de la Función Judicial Capítulo 2 de la Organización y Funcionamiento Art. 199

80b: In practice, national-level judges are protected from political interference.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: COMBATE A LA CORRUPCIÓN JUDICIAL; Realidades y propuestas, Dr. Manuel Villoria, Revista Judicial [ LINK ]

La política presiona a los Jueces, Diario Hoy, Blanco y Negro, [ LINK ]

80c: In law, there is a transparent and objective system for distributing cases to national-level judges.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Código de Procedimiento Civil Libro Primero de la Jurisdicción y de su Ejercicio de las Personas que Intervienen en los Juicios Título I de la Jurisdicción y del Fuero Sección 1a. de la Jurisdicción y de la Competencia Art. 14

Código de Procedimiento Penal Libro Primero Principios Fundamentales Título I la Jurisdicción y la Competencia Capítulo II la Competencia Art. 21

Ley de la Jurisdicción Contencioso-Administrativa Capítulo IV del Procedimiento Contencioso Administrativo Art. 29

80d: In law, national-level judges are protected from removal without relevant justification.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Ley Orgánica de la Función Judicial Título I de los Jueces Sección I Reglas Generales Art. 6

Are judges safe when adjudicating corruption cases?

81a: In practice, in the last year, no judges have been physically harmed because of adjudicating corruption cases.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: [ LINK ] [ LINK ]

81b: In practice, in the last year, no judges have been killed because of adjudicating corruption cases.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no documented cases of judges being killed related to their involvement in a corruption case during the study period. YES is a positive score. NO: A NO score is earned if there were any documented cases where a judge was killed because of his/her participation in a corruption trial. The relationship between a mysterious death and a judge\'s involvement in a case may not be clear, however the burden of proof here is low. If it is a reasonable assumption that a judge was killed in relation to his or her work on corruption issues, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: [ LINK ] [ LINK ]

Do citizens have equal access to the justice system?

82a: In practice, judicial decisions are not affected by racial or ethnic bias.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Respeto, discriminación y violencia: mujeres indígenas en Ecuador,1990-2004, Mercedes Prieto, Clorinda Cuminao, Alejandra Flores, Gina Maldonado y Andrea Pequeño, Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Sede Ecuador [ LINK ]

Acción afirmativa: el caso de la propuesta afroecuatoriana para la integración de la nueva Corte Suprema de Justicia del Ecuador, Michel Guinand, Revista Aportes Andinos [ LINK ]

82b: In practice, women have full access to the judicial system.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: La justicia no tiene rostro de mujer - Obstáculos para el acceso a la justicia de las mujeres, Patricia Balbuena, Revista Aportes Andinos, [ LINK ]

La mujer y la Justicia en el Ecuador, Dra. Mariana Yépez Andrade, Revista Judicial, [ LINK ]

82c: In law, the state provides legal counsel for defendants in criminal cases who cannot afford it.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitución Política de la República del Ecuador Título III de los Derechos, Garantías y Deberes Capítulo 2 de los Derechos Civiles Art. 24

Ley Orgánica de la Función Judicial Título III de los Defensores Públicos, de los Doctores en Jurisprudencia y de los Abogados Sección I de los Defensores Públicos Art. 144

Ley Orgánica de la Defensoría del Pueblo Título II Capítulo III de los Adjuntos, de los Comisionados Provinciales del Defensor del Pueblo y los Defensores Públicos Art. 11

82d: In practice, the state provides adequate legal counsel for defendants in criminal cases who cannot afford it.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: LA DEFENSORÍA PÚBLICA EN EL ECUADOR, Dra. Marlene Mazzini Torres, Revista Judicial, [ LINK ]

La Defensoría Pública no existe jurídicamente, Diario El Universo, [ LINK ]

82e: In practice, citizens earning the median yearly income can afford to bring a legal suit.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Estructura y caracterización del proceso penal en el Ecuador, Dr. Washington Pesantez Muñoz, Revista Judicial, [ LINK ]

PRIVATIZACIÓN DE LA JUSTICIA, Dr. Bayardo MorenoPiedrahita, Revista Judicial, [ LINK ]

82f: In practice, a typical small retail business can afford to bring a legal suit.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Estructura y caracterización del proceso penal en el Ecuador, Dr. Washington Pesantez Muñoz, Revista Judicial, [ LINK ]

PRIVATIZACIÓN DE LA JUSTICIA, Dr. Bayardo MorenoPiedrahita, Revista Judicial, [ LINK ]

82g: In practice, all citizens have access to a court of law, regardless of geographic location.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Justicia debe basarse en independencia, transparencia, accesibilidad y efectividad, Entrevista Gustavo Jalhk, Ministro de Justicia, Ecuador Inmediato, [ LINK ]

Independencia Judicial en el Ecuador, Luis Sánchez Baquerizo, [ LINK ]

Reporte de la Justicia - Ecuador, Centro de Estudios de Justicia de las Américas CEJA, [ LINK ]