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

Abstract

Abstract: This research analyzes the reasoning provided in judgments issued by trial-level judges in Ecuador, based on a case regarding child custody resolved by a Judicial Unit for Family, Women, Children, and Adolescents. The objective was to determine whether the judicial decision met the criteria for sufficient and correct reasoning established by the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador and the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court; to this end, the study employed a method of analyzing judicial reasoning by identifying and evaluating the factual and legal arguments contained in the ruling. The study examined the relationship between the proven facts, the evidence assessed, and the legal norms applied by the judge. The results demonstrated that the analyzed judgment presented clear, coherent, and sufficient reasoning, allowing for an understanding of the grounds for the decision reached. It is concluded that judicial reasoning constitutes a fundamental guarantee of due process, strengthens the right to a defense, and contributes to legal certainty within the administration of justice.