- 76 immediate capture of former President Zelaya398 (supra paras. 49 and 62). In addition, between
June 28, 2009, and August 21, 2009, the Supreme Court of Justice issued five press communiqués
justifying the legality of what had happened (supra para. 65).
232. Specifically, regarding the need to provide guarantees of impartiality in the proceedings, the
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the violations of human rights
in Honduras since the coup d’état asserted that “[t]he public stance of the Supreme Court, defining
the coup as a “constitutional succession” and declaring its legality, cast doubt on its impartiality and
commitment to the rule of law,” and also “the lack of independence of the judiciary and the unequal
and discriminatory application and interpretation of the law have been evident.”399 In July 2011, the
General Assembly of the United Nations recommended to Honduras that it “[u]ndertake all
necessary measures to ensure the independence of the judiciary, including by putting an end to any
intimidation or unjustified disciplinary procedures against judges perceived as critical of the
coup.”400
233. This Court has indicated that impartiality requires that the judge who intervenes in a dispute
must approach the facts of the case subjectively, without any prejudice, and also offering sufficient
guarantees of an objective nature that permit the elimination of any doubt that the defendant or
the community could harbor as to the absence of impartiality.401 The European Court of Human
Rights has explained that personal or subjective impartiality is presumed unless there is evidence to
the contrary.402 Meanwhile, so-called objective impartiality consists in determining whether the
judge in question provided sufficient elements of conviction to eliminate any legitimate fears or
well-founded suspicion about his partiality.403 This is because the judge must act without being
subject to improper influences, inducements, pressures, threats or interferences, direct or
indirect,404 and only and exclusively according to – and based on – the law.405
234. Based on the above, and added to the findings in paragraphs 148 to 155 of this judgment, the
Court considers that the Supreme Court did not meet the objective requirements of impartiality to
decide the disciplinary proceedings of the victims in this case.
C. Right to remain in office on general terms of equality
235. The Court has indicated that the guarantee of stability or tenure of the judge is related to the
right to remain in public office, on general terms of equality.406 Indeed, in the case of Reverón
398
Cf. Supreme Court of Justice. Search order. June 29, 2009. Available at: https://www.oas.org/es/sap/docs/DSDME/
2011/CVR/Honduras%20-%20Informe%20CVR%20-%20TOMO-II-4.pdf
399
Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the violations of human rights in Honduras since
the coup d’état on 28 June 2009. Doc. UN A/HRC/13/66, March 3, 2010, paras. 68 and 73 (merits file, folios 1292 and 1293).
400
United Nations, General Assembly. Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review. Honduras,
A/HRC/16/10,
4
January
2011.
Recommendation
82.56.
Available
at:
http://daccess-ddsny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G11/100 /65/PDF/G1110065.pdf?OpenElement
401
Cf. Case of Apitz Barbera et al. (“First Court of Administrative Disputes”) v. Venezuela, supra, para. 56, and Case of the
Constitutional Tribunal (Camba Campos et al.) v. Ecuador, supra, para. 220.
402
Cf. Case of Apitz Barbera et al. (“First Court of Administrative Disputes”) v. Venezuela, supra, para. 56, citing: ECHR,
Case of Daktaras v. Lithuania, No. 42095/98. Judgment of October 10, 2000, para. 30.
403
Cf. Case of Apitz Barbera et al. (“First Court of Administrative Disputes”) v. Venezuela, supra, para. 56, citing: ECHR,
Case of Piersack v. Belgium, No. 8692/79. Judgment of October 1, 1982, and Case of De Cubber v. Belgium, No. 9186/80.
Judgment of October 26, 1984.
404
Principle 2 of the United Nations Basic Principles.
405
Cf. Case of Apitz Barbera et al. (“First Court of Administrative Disputes”) v. Venezuela, supra, para. 56.
406
Cf. Case of Apitz Barbera et al. (“First Court of Administrative Disputes”) v. Venezuela, supra, para. 43; and Case of the
Constitutional Tribunal (Camba Campos et al.) v. Ecuador, supra, para. 135.