Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador has introduced a judicial reform proposal to establish elections for federal judges, including Supreme Court justices.[1]
Proposed reform
editLópez Obrador's proposal would establish elections for federal judges, form a judicial disciplinary panel elected by popular vote, reduce judicial terms, and pay judges as officers in the executive branch.[2]
Analysis
editThe Mexican Bar Association, Stanford Law School, and Inter-American Dialogue stated that "judicial elections compromise the independence and impartiality of the judicial system" in May 2024.[2]
Responses
editDomestic
editPresident-elect Claudia Sheinbaum defended López Obrador's proposal in a statement to the Financial Times.[3]
On 19 August, federal judges voted to go on strike in response to the proposal.[4]
International
editOn 27 August, Mexico suspended its relations with the United States.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Mexico's planned judicial reform is 'major risk' to democracy, says US ambassador".
- ^ a b Butler, Kelsey (2 May 2024). "AMLO's Plan to Elect Judges Undermines Democracy, Groups Say". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ Stott, Michael; Murray, Christine (8 May 2024). "Mexico's presidential frontrunner defends sweeping legal reforms". Financial Times. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ Romero, Simon; Rodríguez Mega, Emiliano (19 August 2024). "Mexico's Judges Vote to Strike, Opposing Overhaul of Legal System". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ Romero, Simon; Rodríguez Mega, Emiliano (27 August 2024). "Mexico Pauses Relations With U.S. Embassy Amid Clash Over Judicial Overhaul". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
Further reading
edit- Romero, Simon; Villegas, Paulina (28 August 2024). "Last Crusade of Mexico's President: A Drastic Redesign of the Judiciary". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 August 2024.