Alexandra Villacís has filed a legal protection action after being removed from her position in the Judicial Council, following the National Court of Justice's recommendation for her replacement.
Alexandra Villacís, who served as the substitute member for Mario Godoy in Ecuador's Judicial Council, has initiated a legal action for protection after her removal from the council. This development came shortly after the National Court of Justice (CNJ) forwarded a shortlist of candidates to the Citizen Participation and Social Control Council (CPCCS) to select a replacement for Villacís. The case has been assigned to a Family, Women, Childhood, and Adolescence Court in Guayaquil, under the judge Natacha Centeno Vera.
The legal action targets six key authorities in the judicial and governmental framework, including Damián Larco, the temporary president of the Judicial Council, and Jorge Maruri Vecilla, the General Director of the Judiciary. The situation has escalated following Villacís's inability to assume the temporary presidency of the Judicial Council due to Mario Godoy’s leave of absence and vacation days. This has raised questions about the judicial appointment process and its transparency in Ecuador.
Villacís's case highlights the ongoing tensions and complexities within Ecuador's judicial system, particularly regarding the selection of judicial authorities. With such high-stakes political implications, the outcome of this action could set important precedents for the operation of the Judiciary and the protection of its members' rights against arbitrary dismissals. As the situation unfolds, it will be crucial for stakeholders to monitor the reactions of authorities involved and the potential consequences for the future of Ecuador's justice system.
