Will Grant, the Mexico and Central America correspondent, reports from Ciudad Juárez on the unique judicial election in Mexico where citizens will directly choose the country’s entire judiciary. Among the candidates is Silvia Delgado, a former defense lawyer for the notorious drug lord, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán. Delgado’s candidacy has raised questions regarding the integrity of the justice system, given her past association with the Sinaloa Cartel. Despite this, Delgado vehemently defends her right to run for office, challenging accusations that her previous role as a lawyer for El Chapo should disqualify her.
The election, the first of its kind in Mexico, comes amid widespread criticism from human rights and transparency organizations who fear the politicization of the judiciary. Defensorxs, one such organization, has identified Delgado as a “high-risk candidate,” raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the influence of cartels.
While some see the election as a chance to democratize the justice system and address its long-standing issues of corruption and nepotism, others fear it may lead to the manipulation of legal proceedings by political actors. The reform, which could make Mexico the first country to elect all its judges, has sparked a heated debate about the role of the judiciary in a democratic society.
Olivia Aguirre Bonilla, another candidate running for a seat on the Supreme Court, offers a contrasting perspective, viewing the reform as an opportunity for genuine change and democratization of the justice system. She argues that it brings a chance for the judicial system to gain the legitimacy it has lacked, being traditionally influenced by elites and controlled away from the people’s reach.
The outcome of this election, particularly the turnout and abstention rates, is seen as a crucial indicator of Mexican citizens’ support for judicial reform. As voters prepare to cast their ballots, particularly in Ciudad Juárez, the future of Mexico’s judicial integrity and independence hangs in the balance.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn7zk2r14gpo
