Thursday, October 31, 2024 -A majority of Mexico’s Supreme Court judges
have submitted their resignations and announced they will not seek election
under judicial reforms that will allow voters to elect all judges nationwide,
starting next year. This move, announced on Wednesday, has stirred protests and
diplomatic tensions. Eight of the 11 Supreme Court justices, including Court
President Norma Pina, will not run in the scheduled elections in June 2025,
with most resignations taking effect in August, according to a statement from
the Court.
These resignations come just as the Court is set to review a proposal
challenging the constitutionality of electing judges. President Claudia
Sheinbaum responded forcefully to the announcement, stating the Court does not
hold authority to overturn a reform that has already received congressional
approval. “Eight people intend to change a reform about the people of Mexico…
Do they realize the magnitude?” Sheinbaum questioned during a press conference
on Wednesday.
Sheinbaum suggested that the resigning judges might be motivated by
financial incentives, claiming that judges leaving now would retain full
retirement benefits, which may be forfeited under the new electoral system. “If
they resign now, they will leave with all their retirement benefits,” Sheinbaum
said. “If they do not resign now, they will no longer have their retirement
benefits… which is a lot of money.”
Former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who implemented the
reforms in September, argued that the judicial overhaul was essential for
rooting out corruption and serving public interests rather than elites. Critics
argue, however, that electing judges could compromise judicial independence,
making judges vulnerable to political pressures or even threats from powerful
drug cartels.
Throughout his administration, Lopez Obrador frequently criticized the
Supreme Court, which blocked some of his key policies, particularly in areas
like energy and security. Sheinbaum, a close ally of Lopez Obrador and Mexico’s
first woman president since October 1, has strongly supported the reforms.
The reforms have raised concerns among Mexico’s economic allies,
including the United States and Canada, and unsettled financial markets.
Washington has warned that altering Mexico’s judiciary in this way could
undermine investor confidence in the country’s legal system, impacting
international relations and trade agreements.
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