Motivación en las sentencias emitidas por los jueces de primer nivel en Ecuador.

Abstract

Abstract: This thesis aims to analyze whether the rulings issued by judges of the Contentious Administrative Tribunal in Ecuador meet the standards of legal reasoning (motivation). Based on a qualitative methodology including doctrinal, normative, and jurisprudential analysis as well as a detailed examination of case No. 11804-2023-00084, in which the Municipality of Loja filed an action of lesividad against the appointment of Betzy Gutiérrez as Archivist Investigator, alleging a conflict of interest. The Contentious Administrative Tribunal rejected the claim on the grounds that it was filed after the three-year statutory deadline established in the Organic Administrative Code (COA). Furthermore, it found a violation of due process and upheld the appointment of the official. The analysis revealed that adequate legal reasoning not only enables the understanding of the factual and legal grounds of a judgment but also prevents arbitrariness and strengthens the legitimacy of the judicial system.