Mexico’s Judicial Revolution: A Year After the Reform and Its First Elected Judges

MEXICO CITY, January 19, 2026 – More than a year after the most sweeping judicial reform in Mexico’s modern history was enacted, the country’s legal landscape remains in a state of profound transformation and heated debate. The constitutional overhaul, which replaced an appointment-based system with the popular election of judges, culminated in its first major test in June 2025, an election marked by historic low turnout and allegations of partisan influence. As Mexico prepares for a second wave of judicial elections in 2027, the experiment continues to polarize experts, international observers, and the legal community.

The 2024 Reform: A Constitutional Overhaul

On September 15, 2024, then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador promulgated a package of constitutional amendments that fundamentally restructured Mexico’s judiciary. The centerpiece of the reform was the introduction of direct, popular elections for all federal and state judges, including Supreme Court justices—making Mexico the first country in the world to elect its entire judiciary by universal suffrage. The reform was passed by López Obrador’s MORENA party and its allies, who secured a legislative super-majority following the June 2024 elections.

Proponents, led by López Obrador and his successor, President Claudia Sheinbaum, argued the change was necessary to “democratize” a judiciary they characterized as corrupt, elitist, and unresponsive to the popular will. They asserted that allowing citizens to choose their judges would break entrenched networks of nepotism and increase transparency.

Critics, including former presidents, international human rights organizations, bar associations, and the U.S. and Canadian governments, warned the reform would critically undermine judicial independence, expose the courts to greater political and criminal influence, and erode essential checks and balances in Mexico’s democracy.

Key Provisions and the 2025 Election

A Controversial Debut: The June 2025 Vote

The first judicial election on June 1, 2025, was characterized by confusion and controversy. Voters faced ballots with dozens of largely unknown candidates for hundreds of positions. The constitutional ban on political party campaigning was widely circumvented by the reported distribution of partisan “cheat sheets,” instructing voters which candidates to select. The resulting 13% turnout was the lowest recorded for a national vote in Mexico’s modern democratic era.

International observers and domestic critics pointed to several alarming outcomes. Some elected candidates had controversial backgrounds, including Silvia Delgado, a former lawyer for drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who won a judgeship in Ciudad Juárez. The results solidified MORENA’s influence over the new judiciary, with six of the nine newly elected Supreme Court justices linked to the ruling party.

President Sheinbaum hailed the process as a “complete success” and a step toward greater democracy, while opponents decried it as the effective end of an independent judiciary.

Implications and Ongoing Concerns

The reform’s long-term impact is still unfolding, but analysts point to several immediate and potential consequences:

Judicial Independence & Quality: The core criticism remains that elected judges, seeking re-election, may rule based on popular sentiment or the interests of political sponsors rather than a strict interpretation of the law. The influx of judges without prior judicial experience raises concerns about competency and the management of complex cases.

Business and Investment Climate: Law firms and international credit agencies have warned that the uncertainty surrounding judicial impartiality could deter foreign investment. The ability of investors to challenge state actions through amparo suits has been notably weakened by the reform.

Risk of Criminal Influence: Experts from organizations like the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and CSIS warn that exposing the judiciary to electoral politics creates a new avenue for organized crime groups to infiltrate the courts through intimidation, bribery, or by promoting sympathetic candidates.

International Relations: The reform strained Mexico’s relations with the United States and Canada, with both governments expressing concerns that it violates commitments to an independent judiciary under the USMCA trade agreement. U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar publicly stated that popular election of judges was a “major risk to the functioning of Mexico’s democracy.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Mexico decide to elect its judges?

Former President López Obrador argued for years that Mexico’s judiciary was corrupt and served only a wealthy elite. He framed the election of judges as a democratic reform to make the courts accountable to the people, calling it a necessary part of his “Fourth Transformation” of Mexican politics.

What happens in the 2027 elections?

The second phase of the judicial transition is scheduled for June 2027, coinciding with mid-term legislative elections. Another several thousand judicial positions will be contested, completing the replacement of the old appointment-based system.

Can this reform be reversed?

Reversing a constitutional amendment requires another two-thirds majority in Congress and ratification by a majority of state legislatures. With MORENA currently holding significant power, a reversal in the short term is considered highly unlikely. Legal challenges before the Supreme Court itself have been admitted but face an uncertain path.

How does this affect ordinary court cases?

The transition has caused significant disruption. A strike by sitting judges in 2024 delayed proceedings, and the mass replacement of judges in 2025 forced the restart of thousands of ongoing cases under new presiding judges, creating a large backlog. The learning curve for newly elected judges is expected to impact court efficiency for years.