Costa Rica Judicial Branch Cuts Budget by ₡13.2 B, Warns Security Impact

The Costa Rican Supreme Court (Corte Plena), composed of 22 magistrates, voted to reduce its 2026 budget by ₡13.242 billion at the request of the Ministry of Finance to aid fiscal sustainability. About ₡8.687 billion of the cut had been earmarked for the Judicial Investigation Organ (OIJ) and the Public Ministry, including new positions and the opening of sub‑delegations in La Cruz, Cabo Velas and a police office in Puerto Jiménez.

The Court stressed that the reduction will affect essential services and initiatives aimed at strengthening the fight against organized crime and improving access to justice. It also rejected a further request to trim ₡26.549 billion from the 2027 draft budget, citing potential damage to crime‑fighting efforts, victim assistance and judicial backlog reduction. The institution highlighted its high budget execution rates (95‑97% in recent years) and affirmed its commitment to continue combating criminal organizations despite fiscal limits.