Reseña

Judicial independence is therefore closely linked to the consolidation of the rule of law and the strengthening of democracy. In contexts where tensions persist between the judiciary and the other branches of government, safeguarding judicial independence has been crucial to preventing authoritarianism. In this sense, judicial independence enables judges to review and oversee the actions of other public authorities, and to resist pressures from political, social, or economic actors. This upholds the system of checks and balances and protects the rights and freedoms of individuals. In other words, judicial independence allows judicial authorities to resolve disputes based solely on the proper application of the law. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR), aware of the vital role of judicial independence in defending democracy, has defined the scope of this guarantee in its jurisprudence. The Court has interpreted this to include the rights of judges to a proper appointment process, security of tenure, and freedom from external pressures. It has also extended these guarantees to prosecutors and officials outside the Judicial Branch who nonetheless perform jurisdictional functions.