Edomex trains its new judges ahead of national reform

As the country debates a controversial reform of the judiciary, the State of Mexico has taken the lead. The State of Mexico's judiciary has already launched an intensive training program for the judges and magistrates elected in the June 2 elections, a move that is being closely watched nationwide.

In a move that can be interpreted as both an act of good governance and a shrewd political maneuver, the Judicial Branch of the State of Mexico (PJEM) is training its new members. The official objective, according to statements, is to "strengthen access to justice" for the people of the State of Mexico.

However, the timing of this training is what makes it particularly noteworthy. It comes just as the Congress of the Union, with a ruling party majority, is preparing to discuss and, presumably, approve a constitutional reform that will radically transform the justice system throughout the country, including the election of judges by popular vote, a model recently launched in the State of Mexico.

Governance or Political Alignment?

The formation of the PJEM, headed by an elected president, can be viewed from two angles.

* Good Governance: From a neutral perspective, this is a responsible measure. Ensuring that new justice officials, many of whom came to office through an unprecedented electoral process, are properly prepared for their duties is essential to guaranteeing the quality of justice.

* Strategic Alignment: From a political perspective, the move is more complex. Given that the government of the State of Mexico is led by Morena, the same party pushing the reform at the national level, this training could be a way to prepare and align its judiciary with the principles and operation of the new system being implemented nationwide. It would be a way to ensure a smooth and seamless transition to the new judicial model in a key state.

The Tension between State Autonomy and Federal Power

This episode highlights the delicate tension that exists between the autonomy of state judiciaries and the power of the federal government. Historically, state justice systems have operated with a considerable degree of independence.

A national reform of the magnitude proposed fundamentally alters this balance. By launching its own training program, the PJEM is, on the one hand, exercising its autonomy and responsibility. But, on the other, it is implicitly acknowledging that it must adapt to a new reality being dictated by the country's center of political power.

"The State of Mexico's judiciary trains elected judges and magistrates to strengthen access to justice." – Official statement.

The case of the State of Mexico could become a model or a laboratory for what will happen in the rest of the federal entities if the national judicial reform is approved as proposed. The way its new judges and magistrates interpret and apply the law under the new paradigm will be a crucial indicator of the future of federalism and the separation of powers in Mexico.