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

Abstract

Abstract: This study analyzes the reasoning provided in judgments issued by trial-level judges in Ecuador, examining such reasoning as a constitutional guarantee of due process within the Ecuadorian legal system, with a particular focus on its application in criminal cases. The objective is to determine the importance of sufficient and correct reasoning in judicial rulings and its impact on the protection of fundamental rights. The research employed a qualitative approach involving normative, doctrinal, and jurisprudential analysis, based on the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador, the Comprehensive Organic Penal Code, and various rulings by the Constitutional Court of Ecuador. As a case study, the court ruling in a femicide case (Case No. 0128120XXXX) was examined; the analysis focused on the ruling's argumentative structure, the assessment of evidence, and the correct application of legal norms. The results demonstrate that the reasoning was adequate to justify the defendant's criminal liability while guaranteeing the right to a defense and preventing arbitrary decisions; furthermore, essential elements such as the coherence between established facts and the legal grounds were identified. The study concludes that judicial reasoning is a fundamental pillar for the validity of judgments, particularly in serious crimes such as femicide, where a heightened standard is required to ensure justice, transparency, and the effective protection of rights.