Legislature had discussed and decided on the mechanism for nominating the judges of a new Supreme Court of Justice.” 140 89. The judges found out about their dismissal in several ways: some through the press, others through television news broadcasts and others through rumors circulating in the Court. 141 The dismissed Supreme Court justices refused to leave their offices, considering that the National Congress resolution had no “legal validity whatsoever.” Consequently, on December 9, 2004, the National Police proceeded to remove the President of the Supreme Court of Justice and some judges who accompanied him from the Palace of Justice. 142 Meanwhile, other judges and employees 143 were prevented from entering the building. That same day the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Hugo Quintana Coello, was rushed to the emergency room of the Metropolitan Hospital suffering from the effects of the tear gas used and from a hypertensive crisis. 144 Following the police operation, the judges appointed by the National Congress were instated on December 8, 2004. 145 140 Resolution 181 November of December 8, 2004 (File of attachments to the report, volume I, page 206). 141 Cf. Affidavit rendered by Mr. Velasco Dávila on November 9, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2729); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Troya Jaramillo on September 21, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2705); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Salinas Montaño of November 14, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2670); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Lescano Fiallo on October 26, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2615); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Alban Gómez on October 7, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2358); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Bermeo Castillo on November 10, 2011. (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2369); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Galarza Paz on October 27, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2589); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Quevedo Terán on September 29, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2624); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Quintana Coello on September 29, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2635), and Affidavit rendered by Mr. Riofrío Corral on October 11, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2658). 142 Cf. Affidavit rendered by Mr. Zambrano Palacios on August 19, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2749); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Velasco Dávila on November 9, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2730); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Troya Jaramillo on September 21, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2705); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Quintana Coello on May 14, 2007(File of attachments to the report, volume I, page 121); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Alban Gómez on October 7, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2359); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Galarza Paz on October 27, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2590), and Press report entitled “Chaotic changeover in the Court” (File of attachments to the report, volume III, page 861). 143 Cf. Affidavit rendered by Mr. Serrano Puig on January 31, 2013. (Merits file, volume III, page 1300); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Andrade Ubidia on November 16, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2766); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Quevedo Terán on September 29, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2625); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Brito Mieles on October 12, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2401); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Alban Gómez on October 7, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2358); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Lescano Fiallo on October 26, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2614); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Quintana Coello on September 29, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2636), and Affidavit rendered by Mr. Serrano Puig on October 24, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2685). 144 Cf. Affidavit rendered by Mr. Serrano Puig on January 31, 2013. (Merits file, volume III, page 1305). 145 Cf. Affidavit rendered by Mr. Andrade Ubidia on November 16, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2768); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Zambrano Palacios on August 19, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2750); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Villacis Gómez on October 12, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2737); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Serrano Puig on October 24, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2690); Affidavit rendered by Mr. Brito Mieles on October 12, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2400), and Affidavit rendered by Mr. Quevedo Terán on September 29, 2011 (File of attachments to the brief of pleadings and motions, volume I, page 2624). 31