Mexico’s controversial judicial reform takes effect following government decree News
Thelmadatter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Mexico’s controversial judicial reform takes effect following government decree

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador issued a decree in the Official Federal Gazette on Sunday, confirming that recent judicial reforms have now taken effect following his formal approval of the constitutional amendments.

One of the key reforms changes the appointment of magistrates, judges and ministers to an election based on popular vote. Other reforms include reducing the number of Supreme Court justices from 11 to 9 and introducing new judicial procedural rules.

Another significant reform involves the replacement of the Federal Judicial Council. Established in 1994, the Federal Judicial Council was created to take on disciplinary and administrative tasks, allowing Supreme Court to focus on constitutional issues. Under the new reform, the Federal Judicial Council will be replaced by the Judicial Disciplinary Court and a judicial administration body. These entities take over the council’s duties, with  the former handling disciplinary matters and the latter managing administrative responsibilities.

The reforms were passed by the Senate on Friday in an 86-41 vote. Ahead of the vote, demonstrators gathered outside the Senate to express their disapproval of the reforms, resulting in the disruption and eventual relocation of the session. Critics of the reforms argue that these reforms could undermine judicial independence. President Obrador, on the other hand, believes these reforms will potentially reduce corruption within the judicial system.

The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), a human rights organization, has echoed the similar criticism of protesters, warning that electing judicial officials through popular vote could allow the ruling party to exert undue influence, potentially leading to bias and a lack of impartiality in the judiciary. WOLA also warned that the reform may allow the ruling party to adopt “illegal practices such as arbitrary detentions” without judicial scrutiny.

Now that these reforms have taken effect, there will be a waiting period to assess their impact, particularly in the upcoming 2025 election for judicial positions.

THIS DAY @ LAW

President Ford offered amnesty to Vietnam draft-evaders

On September 16, 1974, President Gerald Ford announced a conditional amnesty program for Vietnam War deserters and draft-evaders which would waive any charges provided they agreed to work two years in public service. A Presidential Clemency Board was created to administer the program - it finished its work in September 1975 after having disposed of 14, 514 cases. Critics said the initiative did not go far enough, however, and noted that only about 19 percent of eligible persons even applied. Learn more about the conditional amnesty program from the Papers of Charles E. Goodell, the Washington lawyer who was Chairman of the PCB, now housed at the Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Ozone Layer treaty opens for signatures

On September 16, 1987, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was opened for signature. It has since been signed by almost 200 nations. As a result, the Earth's Ozone Layer is expected to recover by the year 2050.

William O. Douglas born

On September 16, 1898, William O. Douglas was born in Maine Township, Minnesota. Douglas went on to become Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission before being named to the US Supreme Court by President Franklin Roosevelt. Douglas would become an influential civil libertarian on the Warren Court and the longest-tenured Justice in history, serving for 36 years and 7 months.