Latest news with #MargaretSatterthwaite
News.com.au
02-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Mexicans elect their judges under shadow of crime, corruption
Mexicans chose their judges Sunday in unprecedented elections that sharply divided opinion in a country plagued by rampant crime, corruption and impunity. The government and its supporters said the reform making Mexico the world's only nation to select all of its judges and magistrates by popular vote was needed to clean up a rotten justice system. Arturo Giesemann, a 57-year-old retiree, said his main motivation for voting was "the disgust I have with the current judiciary because of its corruption." Turnout appeared to be low as many voters struggled to choose from hundreds of largely unknown candidates. "We are not very prepared," said Lucia Calderon, a 63-year-old university teacher. "I think we need more information." In the western state of Jalisco, 63-year-old housewife Maria Estrada said she used her "intuition" as she did not know the candidates. Experts were concerned that the elections would politicize the justice system and make it easier for criminals to influence the courts with threats and bribery. While corruption already exists, "there is reason to believe that elections may be more easily infiltrated by organized crime than other methods of judicial selection," Margaret Satterthwaite, the United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, told AFP. Hundreds of opponents of the reforms marched through Mexico City waving flags and banners with slogans including: "Hands off our democracy" and "No to electoral fraud." The elections send the judiciary "to its grave," said Ismael Novela, a 58-year-old company worker. "It was the last counterweight we had against the totalitarianism of the executive branch." - 'Regime of corruption' - President Claudia Sheinbaum hit back at her critics on the eve of the vote. "Those who want the regime of corruption and privileges in the judiciary to continue say this election is rigged. Or they also say it's so a political party can take over the Supreme Court," she said in a video message. "Nothing could be further from the truth," she insisted. The run-up to the vote was not accompanied by the kind of violence that often targets politicians in Mexico. But "it is logical that organized criminal groups would have approached judges and candidates who are important to them," said consultant Luis Carlos Ugalde, a former head of Mexico's electoral commission. Rights group Defensorxs has identified around 20 candidates it considers "high risk," including Silvia Delgado, a former lawyer for Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Another aspiring judge, in Durango state, spent almost six years in prison in the United States for drug crimes. - 'Good reputation' - Voters were tasked with choosing around 880 federal judges -- including Supreme Court justices -- as well as hundreds of local judges and magistrates. Another election for the remainder will be held in 2027. Candidates are supposed to have a law degree, experience in legal affairs and what is termed "a good reputation," as well as no criminal record. To do a good job, voters "would have to spend hours and hours researching the track record and the profiles of each of the hundreds of candidates," said David Shirk, a professor at the University of San Diego. He believes that most of the corruption in Mexico's judicial system is in law enforcement agencies and public prosecutor offices. "If you can avoid being prosecuted, you don't have to worry about the judge," said Shirk, who heads the Justice in Mexico research project. The judicial reforms were championed by Sheinbaum's predecessor and mentor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who frequently clashed with the courts before stepping down last year. The main reason for the elections seems to be "because Lopez Obrador had a grudge against the judges," Shirk said.
Business Recorder
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Mexicans elect their judges under shadow of organised crime
MEXICO CITY: Mexico began unprecedented elections Sunday allowing voters to choose their judges at all levels, in a country where drug cartels and other vested interests regularly seek to alter the course of justice. The government says the reform making Mexico the world's only country to select all of its judges and magistrates by popular vote is needed to tackle deep-rooted graft and impunity. 'Those who want the regime of corruption and privileges in the judiciary to continue say this election is rigged. Or they also say it's so a political party can take over the Supreme Court,' President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video on the eve of the election. 'Nothing could be further from the truth,' she added. Critics and experts are concerned that the judiciary will be politicized and that it could become easier for criminals to influence the courts with threats and bribery. While corruption already exists, 'there is reason to believe that elections may be more easily infiltrated by organized crime than other methods of judicial selection,' said Margaret Satterthwaite, the United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. The run-up to the vote has not been accompanied by the kind of violence that often targets politicians in Mexico. But cartels were likely trying to influence the outcome in the shadows, said Luis Carlos Ugalde, a consultant and former head of Mexico's electoral commission. 'It is logical that organized criminal groups would have approached judges and candidates who are important to them,' Ugalde, general director of Integralia Consultores, told a roundtable hosted by the Inter-American Dialogue. Carlota Ramos, a lawyer in the office of President Claudia Sheinbaum, said that while the risk of organized crime infiltrating state institutions was real, the new system allowed greater scrutiny of aspiring judges.
LeMonde
01-06-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
Mexicans elect their judges under shadow of organized crime
Mexico began unprecedented elections Sunday, June 1, allowing voters to choose their judges at all levels, in a country where drug cartels and other vested interests regularly seek to alter the course of justice. The government says the reform making Mexico the world's only country to select all of its judges and magistrates by popular vote is needed to tackle deep-rooted graft and impunity. "Those who want the regime of corruption and privileges in the judiciary to continue say this election is rigged. Or they also say it's so a political party can take over the Supreme Court," President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video on the eve of the election. "Nothing could be further from the truth," she added. Critics and experts are concerned that the judiciary will be politicized and that it could become easier for criminals to influence the courts with threats and bribery. While corruption already exists, "there is reason to believe that elections may be more easily infiltrated by organized crime than other methods of judicial selection," said Margaret Satterthwaite, the United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. The run-up to the vote has not been accompanied by the kind of violence that often targets politicians in Mexico. But cartels were likely trying to influence the outcome in the shadows, said Luis Carlos Ugalde, a consultant and former head of Mexico's electoral commission. "It is logical that organized criminal groups would have approached judges and candidates who are important to them," Ugalde, general director of Integralia Consultores, told a roundtable hosted by the Inter-American Dialogue. Controversial contenders Carlota Ramos, a lawyer in the office of President Claudia Sheinbaum, said that while the risk of organized crime infiltrating state institutions was real, the new system allowed greater scrutiny of aspiring judges. Rights group Defensorxs has identified around 20 candidates it considers "high risk," including Silvia Delgado, a former lawyer for Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Fernando Escamilla, who is seeking to be a judge in the northern state of Nuevo Leon, was a lawyer for Miguel Angel Trevino, a former leader of the Los Zetas cartel, renowned for its brutality. Another aspiring judge, in Durango state, spent almost six years in prison in the United States for drug crimes. Voters will choose around 880 federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, as well as hundreds of local judges and magistrates. Another election for the remainder will be held in 2027. Candidates are supposed to have a law degree, experience in legal affairs and what is termed "a good reputation," as well as no criminal record. There are indications that many voters may stay away, in part due to the complexity of the exercise. The judicial reforms were championed by Sheinbaum's predecessor and mentor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who frequently clashed with the courts.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mexicans elect their judges under shadow of organized crime
Mexico holds unprecedented elections Sunday allowing voters to choose their judges at all levels, in a country where drug cartels and other vested interests regularly seek to alter the course of justice. The government says the reform making Mexico the world's only country to select all of its judges and magistrates by popular vote is needed to tackle deep-rooted corruption and impunity. But there are concerns that the judiciary will be politicized and that it will become easier for criminals to influence the courts with threats and bribery. While corruption is already an issue, "there is reason to believe that elections may be more easily infiltrated by organized crime than other methods of judicial selection," said Margaret Satterthwaite, the United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. Judicial elections also "entail a risk that the electorate will not choose candidates based on their merit," the independent expert told AFP. The run-up to the vote has not been accompanied by the kind of violence that often targets politicians in Mexico. But cartels are likely trying to influence the outcome in the shadows, said Luis Carlos Ugalde, a consultant and former head of Mexico's electoral commission. "It is logical that organized criminal groups would have approached judges and candidates who are important to them," Ugalde, general director of Integralia Consultores, told a roundtable hosted by the Inter-American Dialogue. Carlota Ramos, a lawyer in the office of President Claudia Sheinbaum, said that while the risk of organized crime infiltrating state institutions was real, it had already been present and "invisible." The new system allowed greater scrutiny of aspiring judges, Ramos argued. - Controversial contenders - Rights group Defensorxs has identified around 20 candidates it considers "high risk," including Silvia Delgado, a former lawyer for Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. "Every person has the right to counsel," Delgado, who is standing to be a judge in the northern state of Chihuahua, told AFP. Fernando Escamilla, who is seeking to be a judge in the northern state of Nuevo Leon, was a lawyer for Miguel Angel Trevino, a former leader of the Los Zetas cartel, renowned for its brutality. Another aspiring judge, in Durango state, spent almost six years in prison in the United States for drug crimes. "I've never sold myself to you as the perfect candidate," Leopoldo Chavez said in a video. - 'Good reputation' - On Sunday, voters will choose around 880 federal judges -- including Supreme Court justices -- as well as hundreds of local judges and magistrates. Another election for the remainder will be held in 2027. Candidates are supposed to have a law degree, experience in legal affairs and what is termed "a good reputation," as well as no criminal record. Sheinbaum has played down indications many voters may stay away, in part due to the complexity of the exercise. "We don't even know where the polling stations will be," said Teresa Vargas, 63, who despite being a lawyer admitted she was unsure how to vote or who to choose. To do a good job, voters "would have to spend hours and hours researching the track record and the profiles of each of the hundreds of candidates," said David Shirk, a professor at the University of San Diego. He believes that most of the corruption in Mexico's judicial system is in law enforcement agencies and public prosecutor offices. "It's far easier to bribe a prosecutor and avoid charges overall than to wind up in court and then have to influence the judge," said Shirk, who heads the Justice in Mexico research project. The judicial reforms were championed by Sheinbaum's predecessor and mentor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who frequently clashed with the courts and accused them of serving the political and economic elite. The main reason for the elections seems to be "because Lopez Obrador had a grudge against the judges," Shirk said. bur-dr/nl/tc
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
UN expert says Guatemalan prosecutor's office using criminal law to pursue opponents
UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Margaret Satterthwaite (Image credit: AP) A United Nations expert warned Friday at the conclusion of her two-week visit that Guatemala's prosecutor's office is increasingly using criminal law against former prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, journalists and others. Margaret Satterthwaite, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, travelled the country meeting with judges, lawyers, lawmakers and others, including Guatemala's chief prosecutor. "The instrumental use of criminal law by the Prosecutor General's Office appears to amount to a systematic pattern of intentional and severe deprivation of fundamental rights, targeted at specific groups," Satterthwaite wrote in her preliminary report. "This persecution appears to be intensifying, as those who have sought to end impunity and corruption, defend human rights, or speak out against abuses of power increasingly face digital harassment, threats, and criminal charges. " The office is led by Consuelo Porras, who has been sanctioned by the United States and other countries and accused of being an obstacle to corruption investigations. Satterthwaite met with Porras and her staff. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo They told Satterthwaite that they acted within the law, denied using criminal law to pursue opponents and said they were the real victims of attacks by the executive branch and its allies, the UN expert said. "Criminal charges have been directed at more than 60 justice operators and defence or human rights lawyers," Satterthwaite said, noting that more than 50 "justice operators" have been forced into exile by the prosecutor's office. Porras' office said later that it did not agree with Satterthwaite's preliminary report, because it did not reflect "the complex work that we do, nor the exhaustive information that was provided." "We energetically reject the idea of a 'criminalization of sectors,'" the office said. "Our actions are based on serious, objective investigations that strictly adhere to the Guatemalan legal framework." President Bernardo Arevalo has tried unsuccessfully to convince Porras to step down. His office said it agreed with Satterthwaite's observations about the "criminalization" carried out by the prosecutor's office and justice system, something the president repeatedly has called attention to.
