Mario Godoy Appointed as New President of Ecuador‘s Judiciary
On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, lawyer Mario Godoy Naranjo was appointed as the new president of the Judiciary Council. This decision was made by the Council for Citizen Participation and Social Control (Cpccs), with the votes of those aligned with former president Correa’s party.
The appointment came after a contentious process, with some councilors initially proposing to reconsider the election of Dunia Martínez. The final decision was made by councilors Yadira Saltos, Augusto Verduga, Johana Verdezoto, and Nicole Bonifaz.
One councillor, Juan Esteban Guarderas, expressed his support for reconsidering the election but abstained from voting for Godoy. He likened the situation to a power struggle among those vying for control of the judiciary. Another member, Augusto Verduga, expressed confidence in Godoy’s suitability for the position.
Mishel Calvache, the vice president of the Cpccs, criticized the process, highlighting its timing as the Judiciary prepares to launch a competition to appoint new judges to the National Court of Justice.
Who is Mario Godoy?
Mario Godoy Naranjo is a lawyer with expertise in Administrative Law, Compliance and Anti-Corruption. He has held various positions in the public sector, including Director of Cults, advisor to various tribunals and electoral bodies, and Deputy Secretary Rapporteur at the National Assembly.
His appointment has been controversial due to his previous representation of individuals involved in drug trafficking and other corruption cases. Despite objections, Godoy ultimately faced no legal challenges to his appointment.
Godoy will serve as president of the Judiciary for five months, during which time he will be tasked with selecting new judges for the National Court of Justice.