Rapporteur has indicated that “disciplinary measures to be adopted must be in
proportionality to the gravity of the infraction committed by the judge.”21
27.
Based on the foregoing, with regard to the breadth of Article 31.2 of the LOC, I consider that
the majority opinion should have considered that the CNM, when sanctioning Mr. Cordero
Bernal using the said provision, applied a norm that was not sufficiently defined, which
constituted a violation of the principle of legality, taking into consideration also that the
decision did not specify the interpretive criteria used.
28.
Unfortunately, in this judgment, on the basis of its considerations in the case of López Lone
et al., the Court held that “the precision of a disciplinary sanctioning norm may differ from
that required by the principle of legality in criminal matters, owing to the nature of the
disputes that each one is called on to decide” so that “the problems of the imprecision of a
disciplinary offense cannot be examined in abstract, but rather in light of the grounds
established by the judge when applying it.”22 Therefore, it considered that “the Court must
establish whether the decision imposing the sanction of dismissal on Mr. Cordero Bernal was
adequately substantiated” and “decide whether the arguments made by the National Council
of the Judiciary provided content to the norm that was applied,” “whether the decision took
into account the effects that the conduct examined could have on the exercise of the judicial
function, by an adequate reasoning and interpretation” and “the seriousness of the conduct
and proportionality of the sanction.”23
29.
Thus, the majority opinion considered that “the [National Council of the Judiciary’s] decision
was duly substantiated and was not arbitrary and, consequently, neither the guarantees of
due process nor the principle of legality established in the [American] Convention were
violated.”24
30.
To reach this conclusion, the majority opinion assessed different matters that revealed the
irregularities committed by Mr. Cordero Bernal when he adopted a decision of a jurisdictional
they may not be dismissed or removed from office, unless they commit acts that are clearly punishable; in other
words, based on the most serious grounds of misconduct or incompetence. Therefore, the Court considers that, based
on the guarantee of judicial tenure, the grounds for removing judges from their posts must be clear and established
by law. […]. Moreover, the possibility of dismissal must abide by the above-mentioned principle of extreme gravity.
Indeed, the protection of judicial independence requires that the dismissal of judges be considered as the ultima
ratio in judicial disciplinary matters.” Case of López Lone et al. v. Honduras. Preliminary objection, merits, reparations
and costs. Judgment of October 5, 2015. Series C No. 302, para. 259.
Cf. Human Rights Council. Report of the Special Rapporteur in the independence of judges and lawyers,
Leandro Despouy. Doc. UN. A/HRC/11/41, para. 58.
21
Cf. Case of Cordero Bernal v. Peru. Preliminary objection and merits. Judgment of February 16, 2021. Series
C No. 421, para. 77.
22
Cf. Case of Cordero Bernal v. Peru. Preliminary objection and merits. Judgment of February 16, 2021. Series
C No. 421, para. 82.
23
Cf. Case of Cordero Bernal v. Peru. Preliminary objection and merits. Judgment of February 16, 2021. Series
C No. 421, para. 89.
24