Mexico votes in first judicial election amid concerns over rule of law
The vote will elect 2,600 judges and magistrates, including all Supreme Court justices, and is part of a reform pushed by former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his protégé and successor President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Lopez Obrador and Sheinbaum say the election will root out corruption in a flawed judiciary dominated by an out-of-touch elite and instead allow people to decide who should be a judge.
But the run-up to the vote has been dominated by a scandal over some of the candidates, including a convicted drug smuggler and a former lawyer of drug kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman.
Opponents say the overhaul risks removing checks and balances on the ruling Morena party, by appointing judges friendly to their cause, and also allowing organized crime groups greater influence over the judicial system by running their own candidates.
Mexico joins Bolivia as the only countries worldwide to conduct judicial elections at the national level, though state-level judicial elections are common in the United States and some local Swiss judges are also elected.
Voters on Sunday will cast ballots for Mexico's nine Supreme Court judges, as well as for judges and magistrates across 19 of Mexico's 32 administrative divisions. More than 7,700 candidates are running for judicial posts.
Pollsters expect a poor turnout, in part due to opposition calls to boycott the vote, but also because of the complexity of the process and vast number of candidates to consider.
'In Mexico City we are going to vote for 50 candidates. If even discerning people with access to social media aren't checking the candidates, imagine the people who don't have this access,' 22-year-old accounting student Maria Alejandra Mares told Reuters. 'They're going to vote blind.'
Voting is not mandatory in Mexico and there is no minimum turnout required to legitimize an election.
Just 37% of 1,000 people polled by Buendia & Marquez said they would come out to vote, compared to 61% who participated in the vote last June that elected President Sheinbaum.
The right-wing PAN opposition party has called on supporters to boycott the election, branding it a 'vulgar fraud,' but Sheinbaum has vigorously defended her predecessor's reform and her party has sought to mobilize the grassroots vote.
'We call on you to participate, participate, participate,' Sheinbaum told a news conference on Friday, saying this would help significantly improve the current judiciary. 'Participating is the best way to transform a country.'
Besides mandating the popular election of judges, the judicial reform, promoted last year by former President Lopez Obrador, also reduced the number of Supreme Court judges, shortened terms and eased some requirements such as minimum age and work experience.
The reform's approval by lawmakers last year knocked financial markets, sparked the United States to express concern about a weaker judicial system, and sparked a strike by the country's judicial workers.
'Mexico's justice system was far from perfect, and this new judicial system will not address its shortcomings,' said Rodolfo Ramos, an analyst at Brazilian bank Bradesco BBI.
Ramos said 'the real litmus test' would come when cases against a government action reach the Supreme Court.
Counting is expected to take two weeks, with the results out on June 15.
In 2027, another vote is scheduled to fill over 1,000 more judicial positions.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Cision Canada
16-07-2025
- Cision Canada
Readout - Prime Minister Carney speaks with President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum
OTTAWA, ON, July 15, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum. Prime Minister Carney expressed his gratitude for the Mexican firefighters who have travelled to Manitoba to assist Canadians at this critical time. The Prime Minister and the President discussed how to strengthen the Canadian and Mexican economies and enhance their global competitiveness, building on their productive meeting at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis. The leaders agreed to remain in close contact and continue working closely together. This document is also available at


Calgary Herald
13-07-2025
- Calgary Herald
Mexico seeks deal to dodge U.S. tariffs after Trump's latest threats over drug cartels
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. President Claudia Sheinbaum confident they'll strike a deal with the U.S. government Last updated 1 hour ago Mexico is working to avoid new 30 per cent U.S. tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump, with President Claudia Sheinbaum expressing confidence. Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images Mexico is projecting confidence that it will fend off a new set of 30 per cent tariffs that President Donald Trump threatened Saturday to impose next month, with talks already underway to avert the worst. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors After Trump went public with his plan by posting on social media, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum noted in speeches near the northern border that every country has been getting a letter from Trump as he implements global protectionist policies. Her team had already begun discussions with the U.S. on Friday and she was confident Mexico would get a deal. 'We've had some experience with these things for several months now,' Sheinbaum said at a clinic opening in Ensenada, Baja California. 'And I think we're going to reach an agreement with the United States government.' Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Mexico-U.S. relations have taken a bumpy turn since June, with increasing roundups of migrants by U.S. agents, the border shuttered to livestock due to a screwworm infestation in Mexico, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's reference to the neighbouring country as an adversary, and the financial strike by the U.S. Treasury on three Mexican financial firms accused of aiding fentanyl traffickers. Trump's letter threatened new tariffs on Mexico due to a lack of progress in challenging the country's drug cartels. But behind the scenes, work has been advancing between the Sheinbaum and Trump administrations. Mexico is still in a favourable position relative to the rest of the world and it's poised to benefit from protectionist U.S. policies over the medium term, according to Bloomberg Economic's Felipe Hernandez. That outlook assumes the U.S. doesn't apply the 30 per cent rate to goods that are compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. That exception is part of the plan, but the situation remains fluid, a U.S. official cautioned. Continuing the exclusion for both Mexico and Canada narrows the scope of Trump's continental tariffs and would be a lifeline to sectors like the auto industry that rely heavily on the USMCA pact, which was renegotiated under Trump's first term. Mexico and the U.S. established a new binational working group on Friday to address security, migration and economic issues, according to a statement posted on Saturday by Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard on X. The first major task of the group will be to find an alternative to the tariffs and 'protect jobs on both sides of the border,' the statement read. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We told the group that this treatment is unfair and that we're not in agreement,' read the statement, jointly signed by the Economy and the Foreign Affairs ministries. The U.S. president said the 30 per cent tariffs are separate from sectoral ones and could be raised if Mexico retaliates. 'Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground,' Trump wrote. 'If Mexico is successful in challenging the Cartels and stopping the flow of Fentanyl, we will consider an adjustment to this letter.' On Friday, the son of Sinaloa drug cartel kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman Loera pleaded guilty to federal drug-trafficking charges and agreed to cooperate with U.S. prosecutors. The U.S. has blamed the Sinaloa Cartel for leading the fentanyl trade, importing chemicals from China to make pills in Mexico and smuggle them into the U.S.. Last Wednesday, U.S. Treasury extended a deadline that will cut off three Mexican financial firms from the U.S. financial system for potentially aiding in money laundering from the fentanyl trade. The U.S. praised Mexico's cooperation in the move. — With assistance from Josh Wingrove. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.


Edmonton Journal
13-07-2025
- Edmonton Journal
Mexico seeks deal to dodge U.S. tariffs after Trump's latest threats over drug cartels
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. President Claudia Sheinbaum confident they'll strike a deal with the U.S. government Last updated 7 minutes ago Mexico is working to avoid new 30 per cent U.S. tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump, with President Claudia Sheinbaum expressing confidence. Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images Mexico is projecting confidence that it will fend off a new set of 30 per cent tariffs that President Donald Trump threatened Saturday to impose next month, with talks already underway to avert the worst. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors After Trump went public with his plan by posting on social media, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum noted in speeches near the northern border that every country has been getting a letter from Trump as he implements global protectionist policies. Her team had already begun discussions with the U.S. on Friday and she was confident Mexico would get a deal. 'We've had some experience with these things for several months now,' Sheinbaum said at a clinic opening in Ensenada, Baja California. 'And I think we're going to reach an agreement with the United States government.' Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again Mexico-U.S. relations have taken a bumpy turn since June, with increasing roundups of migrants by U.S. agents, the border shuttered to livestock due to a screwworm infestation in Mexico, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's reference to the neighbouring country as an adversary, and the financial strike by the U.S. Treasury on three Mexican financial firms accused of aiding fentanyl traffickers. Trump's letter threatened new tariffs on Mexico due to a lack of progress in challenging the country's drug cartels. But behind the scenes, work has been advancing between the Sheinbaum and Trump administrations. Mexico is still in a favourable position relative to the rest of the world and it's poised to benefit from protectionist U.S. policies over the medium term, according to Bloomberg Economic's Felipe Hernandez. That outlook assumes the U.S. doesn't apply the 30 per cent rate to goods that are compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. That exception is part of the plan, but the situation remains fluid, a U.S. official cautioned. Continuing the exclusion for both Mexico and Canada narrows the scope of Trump's continental tariffs and would be a lifeline to sectors like the auto industry that rely heavily on the USMCA pact, which was renegotiated under Trump's first term. Mexico and the U.S. established a new binational working group on Friday to address security, migration and economic issues, according to a statement posted on Saturday by Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard on X. The first major task of the group will be to find an alternative to the tariffs and 'protect jobs on both sides of the border,' the statement read. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We told the group that this treatment is unfair and that we're not in agreement,' read the statement, jointly signed by the Economy and the Foreign Affairs ministries. The U.S. president said the 30 per cent tariffs are separate from sectoral ones and could be raised if Mexico retaliates. 'Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground,' Trump wrote. 'If Mexico is successful in challenging the Cartels and stopping the flow of Fentanyl, we will consider an adjustment to this letter.' On Friday, the son of Sinaloa drug cartel kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman Loera pleaded guilty to federal drug-trafficking charges and agreed to cooperate with U.S. prosecutors. The U.S. has blamed the Sinaloa Cartel for leading the fentanyl trade, importing chemicals from China to make pills in Mexico and smuggle them into the U.S.. Last Wednesday, U.S. Treasury extended a deadline that will cut off three Mexican financial firms from the U.S. financial system for potentially aiding in money laundering from the fentanyl trade. The U.S. praised Mexico's cooperation in the move. — With assistance from Josh Wingrove. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.