The Plenary of the Judiciary Council, in Resolutions 030-2020 and 031-2020, and the National Court of Justice, in Resolution 04-2020, have resolved as follows.

  • The workday of employees of the Judiciary and its administrative, jurisdictional, autonomous and auxiliary bodies has been suspended for the duration of the state of emergency. This includes courts, judicial units, Office of the Attorney General, Public Defenders Office, and notarial offices.  
  • The terms and deadlines established by Law for judicial processes have been suspended for the duration of the health emergency.
  • This suspension shall not apply to judicial units having competence in flagrante delicto matters; criminal matters; violence against women and family; traffic matters; juvenile offenders; or mixed-jurisdiction units in regard to flagrante delicto matters.
  • The president, justices and associate justices of the National Court of Justice may order judicial proceedings to be conducted as they deem necessary or indispensable.
  • Judges shall guarantee the non-lapsing of preventive imprisonment and of the statute of limitations for criminal matters. Judges of flagrante delicto courts shall be competent to hear habeas corpus actions.
  • Terms and deadlines for disciplinary procedures of the Judiciary Council, as well as the statute of limitations for disciplinary actions are suspended.

Constitutional Court:

The Constitutional Court has resolved that:

  • All proceedings within the Court’s cognizance processes are suspended.
  • All offices shall be closed to the public indefinitely. Service to the public shall be provided only via the email addresses that shall be announced publicly.
  • All terms and deadlines for actions for the Court’s cognizance are suspended.
  • Notices of jurisdictional decisions shall be made solely by email.

 

Arbitration and mediation centers:

The principal arbitration and mediation centers have also suspended their activities:

  • The Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Quito Chamber of Commerce (Centro de Arbitraje y Mediación de la Cámara de Comercio de Quito) has cancelled all hearings and proceedings from March 16-20, 2020. Arbitral tribunals must suspend the terms of the processes they are handling. Pleadings may be accepted electronically.   
  • The Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Ecuadorian-American Chamber of Commerce (Centro de Arbitraje y Mediación de la Cámara de Comercio Ecuatoriano Americana) has postponed all hearings and proceedings as of March 16, 2020. It has also ordered suspension of deadlines in processes being handled by arbitral tribunals. Pleadings may be accepted electronically.
  • The Arbitration and Conciliation Center of the Guayaquil Chamber of Commerce (Centro de Arbitraje y Conciliación de la Cámara de Comercio de Guayaquil) has cancelled all hearings and proceedings as of March 17, 2020. Arbitral tribunals must suspend the terms of the processes they are handling. Pleadings may be accepted electronically.
  • The Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Manta Chamber of Commerce (Centro de Arbitraje y Mediación de la Cámara de Comercio de Manta) has cancelled all hearings and proceedings as of March 16, 2020. The Center will continue to serve the public by telephone and email. No announcements have been made as to deadlines within arbitral processes.
  • The Mediation Center of the Office of the Attorney General (Centro de Mediación de la Procuraduría General del Estado) has suspended all mediation hearings scheduled through March 27, 2020. After that date the Center will provide notification as to the respective reschedulings.