Politics · Other · 19 hrs ago
Chile’s Supreme Court expels judge Daniel Urrutia
Chile’s Supreme Court expelled judge Daniel Urrutia on Wednesday, along with two other judges, for travelling abroad while on medical leave.
Urrutia travelled to Costa Rica in January 2020 and Ecuador in June 2022 while his medical leave was in effect.
The court said the trips breached the standards of conduct required of judges.
Urrutia’s lawyer argued the trips were for psychiatric treatment and said Urrutia had already been cleared by a lower court.
His lawyer says he will appeal to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Urrutia is a prominent and controversial judge whose past decisions and public criticism of the judiciary drew disciplinary action and public scrutiny.
The Supreme Court has now expelled 18 judges as part of a wider review of public officials who travelled abroad while on medical leave; the sources do not say what will happen next in Urrutia’s case beyond the planned appeal.
Chile’s Supreme Court expelled judge Daniel Urrutia from the judiciary over trips abroad while he was on medical leave.
The court’s full bench voted to remove him, and he did not overturn the decision through several appeals, including one to the Constitutional Court.
Urrutia travelled to Costa Rica in 2020 and Ecuador in 2022 while on leave.
His lawyer said the trips were for psychiatric treatment recommended by a psychiatrist.
The lawyer said he would take the case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and alleged the ruling was retaliation for other matters.
- Who
- The Supreme Court expelled judge Daniel Urrutia from the judiciary.
- What
- The court removed him over travel abroad while he was on medical leave.
- When
- The decision was reported on October 28, 2026.
- Where
- Chile.
- Why
- The court considered his trips while on medical leave grounds for removal. His lawyer said they were for psychiatric treatment and alleged the ruling was retaliation for other matters.
The Supreme Court
Daniel Urrutia’s lawyer, Carlos Quezada
Reason for removal
The Supreme Court
The court expelled Urrutia over travel abroad while on medical leave.
Daniel Urrutia’s lawyer, Carlos Quezada
Quezada said the ruling was not about the medical leave, but retaliation for other matters.
Trips during leave
The Supreme Court
The court considered the trips grounds for removal.
Daniel Urrutia’s lawyer, Carlos Quezada
Quezada said the trips were for psychiatric treatment recommended by a psychiatrist.
Urrutia travelled to Costa Rica while on medical leave.
Urrutia travelled to Ecuador while on medical leave.
The Supreme Court opened 56 removal proceedings, according to EL PAÍS.
The Supreme Court expelled Urrutia from the judiciary.
- Costa Rica trip
- January 2020
- Ecuador trip
- June 2022
- Removal decision
- October 28, 2026
- Appeals
- Included an appeal to Chile’s Constitutional Court
- Planned next step
- Urrutia’s lawyer said they would appeal to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
3 sources
What people are saying
Tenemos claro que no tiene que ver con la licencia médica, porque [el juez Urrutia] ya había sido absuelto en primera instancia. Esta es una pasada de cuenta por otras cosas. Evidentemente, incomodaba a la Corte Suprema.