Indicators for Evaluating the Independence of Judges and Prosecutors in the Americas

Abstract

Indicators for Evaluating the Independence of Judges and Prosecutors in the Americas presents a methodological framework for assessing judicial and prosecutorial independence through a comprehensive system of qualitative and quantitative indicators. Developed by the Justice Studies Center of the Americas (JSCA), the publication translates international standards on judicial independence into measurable indicators that enable governments, judicial councils, prosecution services, oversight bodies, researchers, and international organizations to evaluate institutional performance using objective and verifiable evidence. The framework distinguishes between de jure, de facto, personal, and institutional dimensions of independence, providing technical definitions, units of measurement, and suggested verification sources for each indicator.