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

Abstract

Abstract: This research analyzes judicial motivation in first-level criminal sentences in Ecuador, taking as a case study trial No. 17282-2025-00290, related to an armed robbery. This sentence examines the judges' decision-making regarding how they justify their actions under the abbreviated procedure; and the consideration of the verification of evidence, criminal typification, and application of constitutional principles. The importance of judicial motivation in the legitimacy and transparency of criminal resolutions has been considered. The analytical method, based on doctrinal, jurisprudential, and normative examination, defines how judges can critically examine their decisions and their outcomes. Nevertheless, when the aforementioned sentence is applied, the urgent need for solid, coherent, and logical argumentation becomes apparent, enabling people to understand, scrutinize, and legitimize these judicial decisions. Motivation as a guarantor of judicial control is one of the key conclusions. Modern criminal regulations serve as an example of the authenticity of this approach and the legality of the abbreviated procedure as a legitimate instrument for administering justice in Ecuador.