Till the creation of good constitutional chamber, it incapacity to get a with the lustration typified the newest Best Court’s modus operandi. Indeed, anywhere between 1938 and you can 1989, the new had been just 150 cases of unconstitutionality submitted to your Supreme Court (versus 228 circumstances in the first twenty weeks of the Sala IV’s lives), 18 a variety so lowest that, from inside the Legislative Assembly’s debate into the creation of the new Sala IV, certain magistrates argued contrary to the need for an effective constitutional judge. The latest chamber quickly turned into a prominent actor throughout the governmental lifetime of the nation due to the determination so you can amuse says regarding unconstitutionality, habeas corpus, and you may amparo. 19 Its quick metamorphosis from dead to help you hyperactive has been attributed so you’re able to good confluence regarding options that come with brand new Court, and additionally most unlock supply, greater meanings of status, as well as the entertainment out of procedural guidelines, that have desired it to help you bring conclusion easily and quickly. 20
The latest Sala IV, by an easy most choose (five off eight magistrates), is also signal any legislation, decree, otherwise step unconstitutional
Previously, to declare a law unconstitutional requisite an effective supermajority (two-thirds of one’s full Legal), and that next encouraged official deference toward prominent branches out of bodies. 21 The working regulations stand in stark contrast to people out of the existing Supreme Judge, and that had a tendency to refute cases into procedural in place of court grounds. twenty two Additionally, it functioning a highly limited concept of status and you may, consistent with the fresh new civil-law heritage, governed only with esteem into circumstances earlier; it set no precedents. 23
The guidelines ruling Sala IV was made to assists access to the fresh Judge, that have pair official standards and you will low cost. Someone from inside the Costa Rica (irrespective of citizenship, decades, or other class) can document a case off amparo otherwise habeas corpus twenty-four directly on the Sala IV, the best constitutional judge with no needs one to a reduced court signal in the beginning. Anybody do not require judge expression so you can file a case, there are not any filing charge, and you will condition is really broadly realized. twenty five
Unlock access and you will smooth methods possess desired the fresh new constituencies so you can document times in the place of demand for significant service, tips, otherwise deep understanding of regulations. It is extremely strange. On You.S. and Canada, legal rights candidates provides requisite well financed and you will planned support under control so you can sound the claims. twenty-six Within the Malawi, for example, given that Fidelis Kanyongolo and you may Siri Gloppen keeps listed, the shortcoming 
out-of marginalized groups so you’re able to gather adequate info-as well as their standard judge illiteracy-hinders these types of groups’ capability to sound its claims inside court. 27 And accessibility constitutional fairness within the Costa Rica really stands from inside the stark contrast towards state for the comparable popular regimes in the Latin America, such as for instance Chile, in which extreme difficulties hinder direct access towards Best Court. 28 It’s more in common with Colombia, where in fact the Constitutional Legal have equivalent organization statutes about the availability and judge foregone conclusion features governed positively on most cases regarding the marginalized communities, and additionally gays and lesbians. 29
The new Sala IV features dispensed that have much of the brand new prereform Court’s concern having proceeding formality and has now given serious attention post 27’s be certain that away from “freedom from petition, one another together and really, against one public-official or official entity and directly to a fast effect.”
It’s unlock 365 days a-year, twenty-four-hours every single day, having one to magistrate constantly towards phone call to resolve emergency cases
Among the Sala IV’s basic rulings was a student in like from Trinidad Fuentes Ortega (called Don Trino), 31 who’d sold shaved-frost drinks regarding a solid wood cart beyond your Legislative Assembly getting thirty-24 months. The guy confronted an order from the minister regarding coverage to avoid change where place because of its close distance towards the the new Shopping mall de- la Democracia, where many heads regarding state of the Americas was because of collect. The fresh Don Trino case try important in it sent an early and you will obvious content that Judge was happy and you may in a position to safeguard new legal rights away from perhaps the extremely simple of investors facing violation by regulators companies, actually up against professional part actions. In addition it depicted the first occasion your exec was actually advised it will value individual legal rights in creating and you may doing the rules.