The selection process for the primary and alternate member of the Judiciary Council of Ecuador is proceeding with the nomination of candidates from the National Court of Justice.
On March 18, 2026, the full Council for Citizen Participation and Social Control (CPCCS) in Ecuador resolved to forward the files of the ternary candidates nominated by the National Court of Justice (CNJ) for the selection and designation of the main and alternate member of the Judiciary Council. The candidates include Mercedes Caicedo Aldaz, a judge at the National Court; Óscar Chamorro González, a judge at the Provincial Court of Pichincha; and María Fernanda Morejón Villavicencio, an official at the National Directorate of Registration and Public Data (Dinardap).
This selection process is particularly significant as it aims to fill the vacancy left by former member and former president of the Judiciary Council, Mario Godoy, who resigned on February 18, just hours before a political trial initiated by the National Assembly resulted in his censure and dismissal. The new member will also take the place of Alexandra Villacís, who was Godoy’s alternate but was disqualified from holding a position, adding to the urgency of the selection.
The implications of this selection extend beyond mere personnel changes, as the Judiciary Council plays a crucial role in overseeing the judiciary in Ecuador. The candidates chosen could influence the direction of judicial policies and reforms in the country, especially in a context where trust in the justice system is critical to maintaining social stability and public confidence.
