Rigging the Rule of Law:

Judicial Independence Under Siege in Venezuela

I. Summary

Main Recommendations

II. International Norms on Judicial Independence

The OAS and the Inter-American Democratic Charter

International Human Rights Treaties

III. Background

The Judiciary's Disreputable Past

Declaring a Judicial Emergency

Political Polarization under Chvez

IV. Disposable Judges

Provisional Judgeships

Judges Summarily Fired

Second Highest Court Shut Down

V. Separation of Powers Under Assault

Power to pack the court

Power to purge the court

Implications for the referendum...

VI. Recommendations

To President Hugo Chvez Fras:

To the Supreme Court:

To international lending agencies:

To the Organization of American States:

VII. Acknowledgements