Suspension of Judicial Deadlines After Earthquake in Colombia

On August 10, 2026, a strong earthquake struck Colombia, prompting the first measure of the Superior Council of Justice: the suspension of judicial and administrative deadlines from August 10 to 14, inclusive.

Suspension of Judicial Deadlines

The agreement, signed by the president of the Superior Council of Justice, stipulates that during those four days the counting of deadlines will not be considered. Decisions that directly depend on time will not have those days counted.

Purpose of the Measure

The suspension aims to ensure that cases whose outcome depends on the counting of days – such as requests for release or the use of deadlines for statutes of limitations – are not harmed by the days spent assessing the damage.

Protection of Staff and Damage Assessment

The judiciary states that, to advance inspections of justice buildings, it is essential that employees are not on site, facilitating the work of engineers. The declared goal is to safeguard the lives and integrity of staff, as well as to allow assessment of the physical and technological infrastructure in the affected regions, without violating the right to defense and due process.

Continuous Communication

Since the event, the Superior Council of Justice and the Executive Directorate of Judicial Administration have maintained constant communication with the sectional councils of justice and the sectional directorates of judicial administration, in order to identify the consequences of the seismic event.

Remote Work for Employees

During the suspension period, the Council authorizes work-from-home for staff, ensuring that cases are not impacted, except for the non-counting of days allocated for inspections.

With information from Semana.