Selection Processes and Representativeness within the framework of judicial independence: a Latin American empirical study

This article provides a comparative analysis of judicial selection and appointment processes in ten Latin American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chie, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. It examines how institutional frameworks shape the selection, nomination, and term length of judges in both lower and higher courts, highlighting differences in meritocratic, political, and electoral approaches. The study was developed as a result of an academic partnership between the Jean Monnet Network “BRIDGE Watch: Valores y Democracia entre la Unión Europea y América Latina”, co-funded by Erasmus+ Programme and the Inter-American Juridical Committee of the OAS. Based on data from national experts within the BRIDGE Watch network, the article identifies how these procedures affect judicial independence, representativeness, and public trust. By presenting regional trends and variations, it offers insights for reforms and the promotion of Rule of Law and democracy in Latin America.