The 2024 Mexican judicial reform is a series of constitutional amendments that restructured the judiciary of Mexico. Courtroom Mail hopes to give readers a basic understanding of the reforms which has triggered unrest in Country.
- The reform replaced Mexico’s appointment-based system for selecting judges with one where judges, pre-selected by Congress, are elected by popular vote, with each judge serving a renewable nine-year term.
2. It reduces the number of Supreme Court justices from 11 to 9 and limits their terms to 12 years.
3. It reduces the number of Supreme Court justices from 11 to 9 and limits their terms to 12 years.
4. The reform also allows the use of “faceless” judges.The reforms allow for cases involving organized crime to be heard by “faceless” judges.
5. A salary cap would be imposed on all judges, ensuring that no judge’s salary exceeds that of the president. Retiring judges would receive three months’ salary and 20 days’ pay per year of service.
6. It establishes a new tribunal for judicial oversight and accountability. The National Electoral Institute (INE) would oversee judicial elections. Public and private funding, the purchase of media space, and campaigning by political parties would be prohibited.
7. It significantly reduces benefits and salaries previously received by members of the judiciary.
8. It was passed on the 4th of September 2024 by the Chamber of Deputies
Voting summary
357 voted for
130 voted against
13 absent
9. It was passed by the Senate on the 11 September 2024
Voting summary
86 voted for
41 voted against
1 absent
10. With its passing, Mexico became the first country to have elections for all judges.
11. The reform was put forward by the governing coalition, led by the National Regeneration Movement (Morena), with the goal of eliminating corruption in the judiciary. It faced significant resistance from opposition political parties, judicial workers, and international organizations, who argued that it threatened judicial independence.
12. The amendments secured the required two-thirds majority in Congress and were then ratified by a majority of state legislatures.
13 . It was promulgated by outgoing president Andrés Manuel López Obrador on 15 September.
