Citizens of Mexico will become the first in the world to elect their judges by popular vote, from the country’s lower circuit all the way to the Supreme Court.
Driving the news: The first phase of voting will take place tomorrow, with over 2,600 contenders fighting to win 881 federal judicial positions, and hundreds more competing for positions across 19 state-level jurisdictions. A second phase of voting will take place in 2027.
Catch-up: The bill to democratize judge appointments narrowly passed Mexico’s senate last year, with then-president Andrés Manuel López Obrador pitching it as a way to root out nepotism and corruption in the country’s judiciary while giving more choice to the people.
Yes, but: The move has been, to put it mildly, controversial. Legal experts both inside and outside Mexico have lambasted the reform, claiming it will kick out experienced judges by lowering the barrier to entry and make the judiciary easier for powerful gangs to infiltrate.
- Some critics have called the move a threat to democracy, accusing the ruling Morena party of using it to promote party-friendly judges and tighten its grip on power.
- Turnout is expected to top out at just 15%, compared to 61% in the last federal election, as many voters have little idea who the candidates are (can you name any judges?).
Bottom line: Given how unprecedented this vote is, it’s difficult to predict what will happen, but many foreign companies and investors are already worried about doing business in Mexico, fearing the judicial system will suddenly become more unpredictable.—QH