Mexico Breaks Ground as First Country to Allow Elective Judiciary

Mexico took a bold step into the unknown this week, as it became the world’s first country to give citizens the power to elect judges at all levels, sparking both praise and controversy.

The historic reform, advocated for by outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, passed with a landslide 86-41 majority in the upper chamber. The change aims to purge the judicial system of elitism and corruption, a move López Obrador describes as crucial to curbing white-collar crime and bringing justice to the powerful and the weak alike.

“This reform will allow judges to be elected by the people, rather than by powerful interests,” López Obrador said in a press conference. “What worries those who oppose this reform is that they will lose their privileges, because the current judiciary serves the interests of the powerful.”

Not everyone is convinced, however. Supreme Court Chief Justice Norma Piña expressed “deep concerns” about the plan, warning that elected judges could be susceptible to pressure from criminals, as powerful drug cartels have infiltrated Mexico’s justice system.

Mexico’s new reform has sparked mass protests, diplomatic tensions, and investor concerns, with the US warning that the changes could threaten the relationship between the two countries. Financial markets have reacted negatively, sending the Mexican peso plummeting to a two-year low against the dollar.

Some experts have questioned the effectiveness of the reform, noting that Mexico’s experience in electing judges could diverge significantly from those countries where judicial selection is also democratic. Margaret Satterthwaite, UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, emphasized the country’s unique position, highlighting the lack of precedents in the global arena.

While Human Rights Watch urged lawmakers to reject the proposal, citing concerns about the erosion of judicial independence, Satterthwaite emphasized the importance of establishing strong safeguards to prevent organized crime from infiltrating the election process.

As Mexico pioneers this unprecedented path, one thing is clear: its judiciary will never be the same again. Will the country’s bold experiment deliver the reforms it needs to tackle corruption and uphold the rule of law? Only time will tell.