Table of Contents
I INTRODUCTION TO THE CASE AND PURPOSE OF THE DISPUTE .................... 4
II PROCEEDING BEFORE THE COURT ............................................................... 5
III JURISDICTION ........................................................................................... 6
IV PARTIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY ....... 7
A.
Partial acknowledgment of responsibility by the State and observations of
the Commission and the representatives ...................................................... 7
B.
Considerations of the Court .................................................................. 8
V PRELIMINARY OBJECTION ........................................................................... 9
VI EVIDENCE ................................................................................................. 11
A.
Documentary, testimonial and expert evidence ................................. 11
B.
Admission of the evidence ................................................................. 13
VII PROVEN FACTS ........................................................................................ 14
A.
Background ........................................................................................ 14
1.
1997
The Referendum of April 7, 1997 and the constitutional amendments of July 23,
15
2.
Appointment of members of the Supreme Court of Justice .....................18
3.
The Constitution adopted by the National Constituent Assembly in 1998 .19
4.
Operation of the Supreme Court ......................................................... 20
B.
Context .............................................................................................. 22
1.
Dismissal of members of the Constitutional Tribunal and of the Supreme
Electoral Tribunal ......................................................................................... 22
2.
The Constitutional Tribunal’s decision on the inadmissibility of amparo actions
against decisions of Congress ........................................................................24
3.
Denial of amparo remedies lodged by several dismissed members of the
Constitutional Tribunal .................................................................................25
C.
Dismissal of the Supreme Court Justices ............................................ 26
1.
The call for a special session by the President of the Republic and the National
Congress’s termination resolution ..................................................................26
2.
Events following the dismissals at Ecuador’s High Courts ....................... 32
VIII JUDICIAL GUARANTEES, PRINCIPLE OF LEGALITY, POLITICAL RIGHTS, DUTY
TO ADOPT PROVISIONS OF DOMESTIC LAW, EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW AND
JUDICIAL PROTECTION ................................................................................. 35
A.
Arguments of the Commission and of the parties ............................... 35
1.
Arguments on judicial independence, jurisdiction and political rights .......35
2.
Arguments regarding the nature of the decision to dismiss the judges.....37
3.
Arguments regarding the right to be heard and right of defense .............37
4.
Arguments regarding the obligation to state reasons ............................. 38
5.
Arguments regarding the alleged lack of impartiality of the National Congress
38
2