Mexico, first country in the world to elect all the judges of all its courts
A first. This Sunday, June 1st, Mexicans will elect their judges and magistrates. A democratic step forward, according to the ruling party. But some fear a loss of “justice impartiality” and an ever-tightening grip on the judicial system by drug traffickers, according to The Economist.
On Sunday, June 1 , Mexicans will go to the polls to elect their judges and magistrates: 850 federal judges, 9 Supreme Court justices, 22 superior court judges, and thousands of lower court judges. In 2027, an additional election will fill the remaining judicial positions. A few other countries elect some judges—primarily lower court judges. Mexico will be the first in the world to elect all judges for all its courts by popular vote.
In September 2024, the Mexican Congress approved the constitutional reform necessary for this small revolution. This was Andrés Manuel López Obrador 's final attempt as president of the country [2018-2024]. He thus completed one of his most cherished projects. His successor, Claudia Sheinbaum , is continuing his work.
According to the left-wing Morena party, to which they both belong, the election of judges will make the judicial system more democratic, eliminate corruption and nepotism, and expand access to justice. “People are not stupid,” argues Olivia Aguirre Bonilla, a candidate for the Supreme Court.
“If we trust voters to choose a president, then why not [to choose] a judge?”
It's clear that the Mexican judicial system is in a sorry state. Even though the federal justice system has become more professional over the past thirty years, more than 90% of crimes go unreported, and only 14% of those reported result in a conviction. Not to mention that some judges are corrupt. That said, the reason there are so few democracies where judges are elected by the people is because such a system risks undermining the impartiality of the justice system.
Judges are then less likely to make unpopular decisions. They are also less likely to hold accountable politicians who align with the public mood. “Nobody elected me,” says Martha Magaña, a sitting federal judge who decided not to run for reelection.
“So when I pronounce a judgment
The Economist (London)A major British press institution, The Economist, founded in 1843 by a Scottish hatter, is the bible for anyone interested in international news. Openly liberal, it generally advocates free trade, globalization, immigration, and cultural liberalism. It is printed in six countries, and 85% of its sales are outside the UK.
None of the articles are signed: a long-standing tradition that the weekly supports with the idea that “personality and collective voice matter more than the individual identity of journalists.”
On The Economist website, in addition to the newspaper's main articles, you'll find excellent thematic and geographical reports produced by The Economist Intelligence Unit, as well as multimedia content, blogs , and a calendar of conferences organized by the newspaper around the world. As a bonus: regular updates of the main stock market prices.
The magazine's coverage may vary between editions (UK, Europe, North America, Asia), but the content is the same; in the UK, however, a few additional pages cover national news. The Economist is 43.4% owned by the Italian Agnelli family, with the remaining stake being shared among prominent British families (Cadbury, Rothschild, Schroders, etc.) and members of the editorial staff.
Courrier International
