A judge in Guayaquil has dismissed a protection action filed by Alexandra Villacís, a former substitute member of the Judiciary, citing territorial competence despite her claims of constitutional violations.
In a recent ruling, Natacha Centeno Vera, a judge from the Judicial Unit of Family, Women, Children, and Adolescents in northern Guayaquil, has dismissed the protection action filed by Alexandra Villacís, a former substitute member of the Judiciary under ex-president Mario Godoy. The dismissal came on February 23, 2026, and Villacís has reported that the decision does not address the merits of her case regarding alleged constitutional violations, but is instead based on formal grounds related to jurisdictional competence.
Villacís's dismissal is grounded on the rationale that the appropriate judicial competence lies in Quito, not Guayaquil. This decision highlights the complexities of jurisdiction within the Ecuadorian legal framework. Villacís argued that the inadmission of her case should not negate her rights or the legitimacy of her action, maintaining that it merely enables her to present her case before a judge in the correct jurisdiction.
The implications of this ruling are significant for Villacís, who has been navigating the complexities of her legal battles following her separation from the Judiciary. This case sheds light on the procedural hurdles individuals may face in seeking justice and protection under constitutional norms in Ecuador, particularly in contexts where jurisdictional issues complicate immediate recourse for those alleging violations of rights.
