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### Viewing cable 05QUITO2706, SUPREME COURT SELECTED, FIRST STEP IN DEMOCRATIC

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05QUITO2706 | 2005-11-29 15:03 | 2011-05-02 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Quito

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 002706

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PGOV KJUS PREL EC OAS
    SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT SELECTED, FIRST STEP IN DEMOCRATIC
    REBUILDING

    REF: QUITO 2235

    ¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Achieving a major democratic milestone
    and goal of the mission's democracy support strategy
    (RefTel), on November 28 a new, more independent Supreme
    Court was named unanimously by the special selection
    committee, permitting an inauguration ceremony to take place
    on November 30.  The selection of the court came after tense
    final negotiations and culminates a six-month selection
    process mandated by Congress after the discredited former
    court was disbanded in the wake of the irregular change of
    government in April.  The new court will immediately face
    challenges to its legitimacy, since it was selected by
    extra-constitutional means.  The international community,
    especially USG-supported OAS monitors, played a critical role
    which helped the selection commission overcome its
    differences.  The court's first task will be to select a new
    national judicial council, which in turn will nominate a
    replacement Constitutional Tribunal.  Doing so would fill the
    current vacuum there and reconstitute a more independent
    judiciary after almost a year of judicial uncertainty.  End
    Summary.

    What Constitution?
    ------------------

    ¶2.  (U) The Supreme Court and Constitutional Tribunal were
    dissolved (unconstitutionally) by Congress shortly after the
    irregular change of government in April.  Congress then
    passed a law mandating a new (extra-constitutional) selection
    process for the new court.  This all came in the wake of an
    unsuccessful last-ditch attempt by ex-president Lucio
    Gutierrez to quell street protests leading to his ouster by
    (unconstitutionally) disbanding the court his allies had
    (unconstitutionally) packed in December, 2004.

    ¶3.  (U) Lack of political support for a return to the
    original (politicized) court caused Congress, the
    international community (UN Rapporteur for Judicial Affairs,
    the OAS, the Community of Andean National), and others to
    support the new selection process imposed by Congress with
    only minor modifications, despite it being
    extra-constitutional.  The law created a selection committee
    and included a point system for qualifying candidates.  It
    also mandated that the court's 31 members be apportioned by
    affiliation (11 to sitting members of the judiciary, 10 to
    academic legal theorists, and 10 to independent lawyers), but
    included an exceptional provision (Art. 17) to select the
    court by simple numerical rank (top 31 of over 100 qualified
    candidates) in the event of lack of consensus.

    Down to the Wire
    ----------------

    ¶4.  (U) The selection process, while relatively transparent,
    was not devoid of political pressure.  The selection
    commission president reported receiving threats.  On November
    24, the commission aborted a scheduled press event to
    introduce the new court, for lack of consensus over the
    selection method.  Political parties favored respecting the
    mandate to allocate seats by affiliation, anticipating
    challenges by a disgruntled judiciary, whose representatives
    scored poorly on qualifying exams.  OAS, UN, CAN and national
    observers worked feverishly to encourage consensus inside the
    commission.  Time was running out on the process, since by
    law, nominees needed to disclose their assets before the
    inauguration ceremony scheduled for November 30.  After a
    readjustment of the rank order of some justices after final
    reconsideration, consensus was finally achieved late on
    November 28 and the commission voted unanimously in favor of
    the application of Article 17, automatically naming the top
    31 qualified candidates to the court.

    ¶5.  (U) Of the 31 selected, only five came from the ranks of
    the judiciary, 18 hail from academia, and eight came from the
    ranks of independent lawyers.  Three of the justices selected
    had previously served on the court deposed by Congress in
    December 2004.  Only two of the 31 Supreme Court justices are
    women.

    Comment
    -------

    ¶6.  (SBU) Ecuador's democratic institutions were severely
    strained by the irregular change of government, undermining
    confidence in democracy and creating an urgency for repair.
    Now selected, the new court gains legitimacy benefits from
    its relatively transparent and independent selection process,
    but it will face predictable challenges to its legitimacy.
    To protect against constitutional challenge, some are calling
    for a popular referendum to ratify the court.  Given the
    current stand-off between the Executive and Congress over the
    government's proposed referendum, however, it is doubtful the
    court will be fortified much beyond the inauguration
    ceremony, to be attended by OAS SecGen Insulza and UN
    Rapporteur Leandro Despouy.  The Charge will represent the
    Embassy.

    ¶7.  (SBU) After its inauguration, the court will be severely
    tested, both by the backlog of high-profile cases (including
    charges pending against imprisoned ex-president Gutierrez)
    and the selection of the new national judicial commission.
    Once the commission helps reconstitute the Constitutional
    Tribunal, Ecuador will have filled a dangerous vacuum in its
    judiciary.  We believe this overall effort, despite the
    recourse to extra-constitutional procedures, merits
    international support.

    Suggested Press Guidance
    ------------------------

    ¶8.  (U) We offer the following suggested guidance for press
    inquiries:

    -- We congratulate Ecuador for the re-establishment of the
    Supreme Court.

    -- We were proud to support OAS oversight of the selection
    process.

    -- A well-qualified and independent judiciary is essential
    for effective democratic governance and economic
    competitiveness.

    -- (If asked) We do not presume to interpret Ecuador's
    constitution.  That is for Ecuadorian institutions to decide.
    BROWN

`