Costa Rica: Judges on disability leave cite executive threats; judicial independence questioned

Costa Rica's Association of Judicial Employees (Acojud) reports that three penal execution judges are on disability leave due to threats and pressures from the executive branch, alleging a pattern of interference since 2017. The claim is unverified and based on union statements, but it signals potential erosion of judicial independence in a stable democracy. This matters as it could affect rule-of-law perceptions and institutional trust, though market impact is minimal.