10 condemned the arrest of Judge Chévez de la Rocha31 and considered that the disciplinary proceedings conducted against the alleged victims in this case and other officials in the Judicial Branch were an attack to the independence of the Judiciary.32 C. The laws and regulations governing the procedure for removal of judges in Honduras 36. Under Article 313 of the 1982 Honduran Constitution the SCJ has the authority to “appoint and remove the magistrates and judges proposed by the Judicial Career Council.”33 For its part, Article 317 of the Constitution provides for the creation of a Council of the Judiciary, which would have authority over the judicial career service in the terms prescribed by a law.34 The State of Honduras indicated that the bill that would regulate that authority of the Council of the Judiciary had been pending with the Congress since 2006; in its absence the Law of the Judicial Career Service and its Regulations contain the relevant provisions.35 The Commission also observes that three regulations were applicable to the disciplinary proceedings, as evidenced by the decisions adopted in the present case: (i) the Regulations of the Judicial Career Service Act,36 (ii) the Internal Rules of the Judicial Career Council37 and (iii) the Regulations of the Office of the Inspector General of Courts and Tribunals.38 37. The Judicial Career Service Act set up a disciplinary system for failure to perform one’s duties, incompatibilities and acts inimical to the dignity and efficacy of the justice system.39 31 Annex 9. Communiqué from the Asociación de Jueces por la Democracia. Condenamos enérgicamente la detención ilegal del abogado Luís Chévez de la Rocha por las autoridades policiales de San Pedro Sula [We energetically condemn the unlawful detention of attorney Luís Chévez de la Rocha by the police authorities of San Pedro Sula]. August 14, 2009. Attachment to the petitioners’ communication of January 20, 2011. 32 Annex 10. Communiqué from the Asociación de Jueces por la Democracia. Se agudiza la persecución contra jueces y juezas por apoyar el retorno al orden constitucional [Persecution against judges for supporting restoration of constitutional order intensifies]. October 7, 2009; Communiqué from the Asociación de Jueces por la Democracia. SCJ se niega al diálogo y a la reconciliación [SCJ refuses dialogue and reconciliation]. November 3, 2009. Attachment to the petitioners’ communication of January 20, 2011. 33 Constitution of the Republic of Honduras of 1982 (with amendments introduced up to January 20, 2006). Available [in Spanish] at: http://www.poderjudicial.gob.hn/institucional/organizacion/dependencias/cedij/Leyes/Documents/CONSTITUCIÓN%20DE%20 LA%20REPÚBLICA%20(09).pdf 34 Constitution of the Republic of Honduras of 1982 (with amendments introduced up to January 20, 2006). Available [in Spanish] at: http://www.poderjudicial.gob.hn/institucional/organizacion/dependencias/cedij/Leyes/Documents/CONSTITUCIÓN%20DE%20 LA%20REPÚBLICA%20(09).pdf 35 Annex 11. Communication from the State dated October 14, 2010, pp. 28-29. 36 Regulations of the Judicial Career Service Act, published in the Official Record La Gaceta No. 25,657 of October 17, 1988. Article 172. Available [in Spanish] at: http://www.poderjudicial.gob.hn/transparencia/regulacion/Documents/Reglamento%20de%20la%20Carrera%20Judicial.pdf 37 Regulations of the Judicial Career Service Act, published in the Official Record La Gaceta No. 25,657 of October 17, 1988. Article 31. Available [in Spanish] at: http://www.poderjudicial.gob.hn/transparencia/regulacion/Documents/Reglamento%20de%20la%20Carrera%20Judicial.pdf 38 Regulations of the Office of the Inspector General of Courts and Tribunals. Published in the Official Record La Gaceta No. 27,745, August 31, 1995. Articles 10 et seq. Available [in Spanish] at: http://www.poderjudicial.gob.hn/transparencia/regulacion/Documents/Reglamento%20de%20la%20Inspector%C3%ADa%20G eneral%20de%20Tribunales.pdf. 39 Annex 12. Military Governing Junta, Council of Ministers, Degree No. 953, Judicial Career Service Act, August 4, 1998. Attachment to the State’s communication of October 14, 2010.