Wed Sep 11 09:30:44 UTC 2024: ## Mexico Paves Way for Elected Judges Amidst Protests and Concerns
Mexico has become the first country in the world to allow voters to elect judges at all levels, a controversial reform that has sparked widespread protests, international criticism, and financial market jitters.
The reform, approved by the Senate on Wednesday with a two-thirds majority, will see around 1,600 judges face elections in 2025 or 2027. This includes judges at all levels, from local courts to the Supreme Court.
Opponents, including court employees, law students, and international organizations, have fiercely criticized the reform, arguing that it undermines judicial independence and risks exposing the judiciary to pressure from powerful criminal organizations.
The United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, expressed deep concerns about the reform, stating that it could jeopardize access to an independent and impartial judiciary, a fundamental human right.
The United States, Mexico’s main trading partner, has also voiced strong reservations, warning that the reform could threaten the Mexican legal framework and investor confidence.
Protests against the reform have been intense, leading to disruptions in both houses of Congress. Demonstrators blocked access to the lower house, forcing politicians to relocate to a sports center to formally pass the bill. They also stormed the upper house, suspending debate and chanting “The judiciary will not fall.”
Outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a staunch supporter of the reform, has argued that it aims to break the power of the political and economic elite, claiming that the current judiciary is “at the service of white-collar crime.”
The reform’s implementation is expected to be closely watched as it represents a significant departure from traditional judicial selection processes and could have far-reaching consequences for the Mexican legal system and its relationship with the international community.
First Piper 