The principle of procedural speed in the processes handled by the Constitutional Court of Ecuador

Abstract

This research examines how Ecuador's Constitutional Court complies with the principle of procedural speed during 2024. To this end, seven key areas of the Court's jurisdiction have been reviewed: extraordinary protection actions, unconstitutional actions, non-compliance actions, actions for non-compliance with constitutional judgments and rulings, prior review of international treaties, review of states of emergency, and constitutional interpretation. The research is based on descriptive and analytical methodology, with a mixed approach that combines quantitative methods with qualitative interpretation of the doctrinal and jurisprudential framework. Average times are used for each type of Court jurisdiction, from the date of filing to the resolution of each case. The findings determine that, although prior reviews of international treaties and the review of states of emergency are resolved quickly, extraordinary actions for protection and non-compliance tend to drag on for several years. The study concludes that the Court acts more quickly when the law expressly requires it to do so, or when its institutional credibility is threatened by a lack of speed. This research suggests the need to establish reasonable time limits for resolving cases, prioritizing those with the greatest legal or social impact. These results promote an informed debate on what the constitutional regulations establish and what happens in institutional practice, with the aim of optimizing the Ecuadorian procedural system.