Azuay Lawyers Ask For Cuenca Meeting Over 15-Judge Deficit

Azuay's court-capacity problem is back on the table.

The Colegio de Abogados del Azuay asked Mercedes Caicedo Aldaz, president of the Council of the Judiciary, for a work meeting in Cuenca to address the administration of justice in the province and the lack of judges.

The request was sent in a letter dated July 1, 2026, signed by Rubén Calle, president of the association.

Why The Meeting Was Requested

The association said it wants the judicial authority to have a clear, direct, firsthand diagnosis of the seriousness of the situation.

Fernando Moreno, president of the Provincial Court of Justice of Azuay, presented the judge-shortage issue during a May 2026 work table at the National Court of Justice.

According to that presentation, the province has a deficit of 15 judges. The shortage affects case processing times and limits service delivery.

The Case Numbers

Figures through May 2026 show that 16,254 cases entered the system and 15,854 were resolved, giving a resolution rate of 0.98.

The province also had an average of 44,773 cases in process, and by March 2026 there were 4,916 backlogged cases.

For expats, court capacity can matter in practical situations: contracts, disputes, civil procedures, and any legal issue where timing is part of the risk.