"Claudia Sheinbaum praises Hugo Aguilar, upcoming SCJN president: "Custodian of justice"'
A New Era in Mexican Justice
The identity of the leaders occupying the Supreme Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) has been determined. Post-election calculations by the National Electoral Institute (INE) have also revealed who will serve as the initial president of the SCJN for the following two years, and Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has expressed her thoughts on the matter.
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On the occasion of the inauguration of the Puebla Children's Hospital of the IMSS-Bienestar, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo touched upon the subject again. In doing so, she acknowledges Hugo Aguilar Ortiz, the candidate who garnered the most votes and is set to serve as the SCJN's first president.
"Since Juarez, there has been no indigenous president of the Court; today, Mexico will have an indigenous president of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation. A fine attorney, an honest man devoid of pretense, who, of course, will be justice's guardian, that is his duty, that is his craft," Sheinbaum highlighted.
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According to the final tally provided by the National Electoral Institute, Hugo Aguilar Ortiz secured 5.3094% of the votes, amounting to approximately 6 million 195 thousand 612 votes. As Aguilar Ortiz surpassed his fellow candidates' votes, he will hold the presidency of the SCJN for the next two years according to the law.
Facing backlash due to the relatively low voter turnover, the president defended the process while pointing out that "it is better that 13 million individuals have voted, rather than 120 senators from the Legislative Power, who would dictate the composition of the Court."
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"There are some who are not pleased, who do not view it favorably, because before only a select few decided the country's affairs. That has now changed, and the people of Mexico decide the fate of Mexico," she argued during the event.
Claudia Sheinbaum Responds to OEA Report on Judicial Elections
In a fiery response a day prior to her comments regarding Hugo Aguilar Ortiz, Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the Organization of American States (OEA) for their report released post-election. She contended that the international body does not hold the authority to issue such declarations.
"They wish to voice their opinions on the system the Mexican people have chosen to elect the Court's members and judges. The OEA should remain silent because it is not within their statutes," she remarked.
Related Topics:
Claudia SheinbaumHugo Aguilar OrtizSCJNJudicial ElectionsJudicial Elections in MexicoMexican Politics
Enrichment Data:
Hugo Aguilar Ortiz, a lawyer of Mixtec origin born in 1973 in Villa Guadalupe Victoria, Oaxaca, is poised to become the next president of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) in Mexico following the June 1, 2025 judicial elections. He holds a law degree and a master’s in constitutional law from the Benito Juarez Autonomous University of Oaxaca (UABJO).
Throughout his career, he has been involved with the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), assisted in drafting constitutional amendments on indigenous rights in 1996, worked as a consultant with the Mexico office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on issues related to Indigenous peoples' lands and resources in 2007-2008, and served as the coordinator for indigenous rights at the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI) since 2018. During the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), he played a significant role in coordinating indigenous consultations for projects such as the Tren Maya and the Interoceanic Corridor.
Aguilar Ortiz is set to lead the SCJN for a two-year term beginning on September 1, 2025, following his successful bid which secured nearly 4.94 million votes. However, his close ties to the previous administration and involvement in contentious projects have stirred concerns about his independence and impartiality in leading the SCJN. Aguilar Ortiz's election marks a significant milestone in Mexico's judicial history as he will be the first Indigenous person to serve as the Chief Justice of the SCJN.
- Hugo Aguilar Ortiz, an indigenous lawyer from Oaxaca, has been elected as the President of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) in Mexico, becoming the first Indigenous person to hold this position.
- After securing approximately 6 million 195 thousand 612 votes in the judicial elections held in June 2025, Hugo Aguilar Ortiz is expected to lead the SCJN for the next two years, a move that has raised controversy given his close ties to the previous administration and his involvement in contentious projects.
