La justicia abierta en el sistema judicial ecuatoriano: necesidad de su aplicación para la legitimidad institucional y la confianza ciudadana

Abstract

Open Justice in Ecuador is an approach that seeks to strengthen institutional legitimacy and public trust in the judicial system. This concept is based on transparency, participation, and collaboration, essential pillars for a judicial system that aims to be fair and accessible to all citizens. The implementation of Open Justice can improve public perception of the impartiality and effectiveness of the judicial system, thereby reducing the prevalent distrust and skepticism. From a qualitative perspective, the research has focused on interviews and focus groups with judges, lawyers, academics, and citizens. These data have revealed that the lack of transparency and the perception of corruption are key factors undermining trust in the judicial system. Participants highlighted the need for more open access to judicial information and the inclusion of citizen participation mechanisms in judicial processes. These findings suggest that the implementation of Open Justice policies could be a fundamental step in improving the public perception of the judicial system in Ecuador. In the quantitative realm, surveys and statistical data related to the perception of justice in Ecuador have been analyzed. The results show that a significant percentage of the population does not trust the judicial system, citing lack of transparency and inefficiency as major issues. Additionally, the data indicate that the implementation of Open Justice measures, such as the online publication of rulings and the holding of public hearings, could have a positive impact on the perception of institutional legitimacy