Mexico's Unprecedented Direct Election of Judges: A Controversial Step Towards Transparency?
High participation in Mexico's distinctive judges-election falling short - Insufficient voter turnout observed in Mexico's direct election of judges
Get ready to cast your vote for judges, Mexico-style! That's right, folks – for the first time in Mexican history, nearly 13 million citizens took to the polls on a Sunday back in 2025 to elect their very own judiciary. But was this a brave step towards transparency or a dangerous politicization of the judicial system?
Claudia Sheinbaum, the leftist president at the time, hailed the election as a revolutionary move. The reform, which was part of the "Plan C" constitutional changes spearheaded by her administration and the Sigamos Haciendo Historia coalition, aimed to tackle corruption within the judicial system by putting the decision-making power back in the hands of the people. With Sunday's vote, over 100 million voters were given the opportunity to elect a whopping 2,630 judges and prosecutors, both at the federal and local levels.
However, the reform was met with fierce criticism. Critics warned that electing judges might lead to a blurred line between the law and political interests. Concerns included the potential for judges to succumb to political pressures or favors from powerful drug cartels, as well as a possible lack of expertise among elected candidates.
Detractors also suggested this reform could politicize the judiciary, potentially undermining judicial independence. The USA and human rights organization Human Rights Watch had even issued a warning pre-election about the potential erosion of judicial independence in Mexico.
But let's not forget about voter turnout: the number one factor in any democratic election. Unfortunately, the 2025 judicial elections saw a relatively low turnout, with about 13% of eligible voters participating. This was largely due to opposition boycotts and the novelty of the process.
So, what's next for this groundbreaking election experiment? Well, the immediate future is unclear, but the government plans to refine and improve the election process for future events, including another round scheduled for 2027. Will direct judicial elections lead to a more accountable, transparent judiciary or jeopardize its independence? Time will tell.
Key Stats:- Positions Elected: 881 federal judicial positions (including Supreme Court justices, magistrates, and district court judges)[2][3].- Turnout: Approximately 13% of eligible voters participated[4].- International Attention: Elections were closely watched by international observers from 40 countries and 16 organizations[4].
- The employment policy of the Sigamos Haciendo Historia coalition, under President Claudia Sheinbaum, aimed to tackle corruption within the judicial system by encouraging direct elections of judges, which can be compared to an unconventional employment procedure in the politics sector.
- Critics of the judicial election policy in Mexico voiced concerns about the blurring of the line between political interests and the law, arguing that it could lead to politicization of the judicial system and potential erosion of judicial independence, much like debates surrounding employment policy and potential impacts on professional neutrality.
