When the Constitutional Court legislates: Comments on the Constitutional Court’s Ruling on “Protected Schools,” Cases Nos. 17,651-26 and 17,653-26, July 6, 2026, Consolidated Cases

Abstract

In response to the increase in incidents of violence in educational institutions, the Executive Branch introduced a bill establishing measures to ensure safety, order, and respect for the educational community. Various provisions of the bill were challenged before the Constitutional Court by a group of lawmakers, leading to the ruling in cases Nos. 17,651-26 and 17,653-26. The ruling upheld the challenges and eliminated some of the most significant tools designed by the legislature to address school violence.