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yesterday

Mexico holds first nationwide judicial elections to choose nearly 2,700 judges

Critics warn the convoluted ballot design laced with candidates tied to organized crime may erode judicial independence under Morena’s overhaul.

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Women walk past electoral propaganda messages painted on a wall encouraging people to vote, ahead of the judicial and magistrate election, in Mexico City, Mexico May 29, 2025. REUTERS/Henry Romero
A man walks down stairs as an electoral propaganda banner hangs from a pedestrian bridge encouraging people to vote, ahead of the judicial and magistrate election, in Mexico City, Mexico, May 29, 2025. REUTERS/Henry Romero
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Overview

  • On June 1, Mexico held its first-ever nationwide judicial election to fill almost 2,700 posts, including nine Supreme Court seats and hundreds of federal and local judgeships.
  • Voters confronted six color-coded ballots listing more than 7,700 candidates, generating widespread confusion and low public awareness of the process.
  • Civil society organizations highlighted candidates with alleged links to organized crime, from lawyers for cartel figures to former drug traffickers, stoking fears of criminal influence in the courts.
  • Political analysts predict Morena-aligned candidates will dominate the vote, potentially consolidating the ruling party’s power and weakening checks on executive authority.
  • Opponents argue that the reform’s rapid rollout and limited voter education undermine judicial independence and threaten Mexico’s rule-of-law commitments under the USMCA.