Mexico: Majority of Supreme Court Justices Resign Over Judicial Reforms

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Facts

  • Eight out of Mexico's 11 Supreme Court justices, including court President Norma Piña, have announced their intent to resign in protest of recent judicial reform laws, including a provision that judges of all levels be elected rather than appointed.[1][2]
  • Piña, who was slated to serve until 2030, wrote in her letter that her decision 'does not imply [her] agreement with the separation from the position for which I was originally appointed' but rather is 'an act of congruence and respect for the' current constitutional text.[3]
  • The resignations of Piña, Jorge Mario Pardo, Alfredo Gutierrez, Alberto Perez, Javier Laynez, Juan Luis Gonzalez, and Margarita Rios will take effect Aug. 31, 2025, while Justice Luis Maria Aguilar will leave at the end of next month.[4]
  • Pres. Claudia Sheinbaum's ruling Morena Party alleges that the resignations are financially motivated, arguing that the justices are trying to secure better pension benefits before the reforms take effect next year.[5]
  • The reforms, signed by former Pres. López Obrador and supported by Sheinbaum, will also cut term limits from 15 years to 12 and implement a 'constitutional supremacy' bill to limit the court's ability to challenge congressional amendments to the Constitution.[5][3]
  • The resigning justices — alongside other critics including 400 lower court judges who said they won't run for election next year — argue the reform will undermine judicial independence and give the Morena Party unchecked power. However, the three remaining justices support the reform.[5][3]

Sources: [1]Guardian, [2]El Paso Inc., [3]New York Times, [4]CNN and [5]Texas Border Business.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by El País México. This group of justices has shown contempt for the Constitution they're obligated to uphold. Not only did they seek to illegally amend a constitutionally protected law, but now they want to neglect their duties and still receive a full pension. Just as they failed to block the judicial reform laws, they will fail again in this attempt to circumvent their job requirements.
  • Narrative B, as provided by persuasion.community. Despite accusations from politicians like Obrador and Sheinbaum, these judges are not neglecting their duties nor violating the law. What they are doing is sticking up for the Mexican people who see this reform bill as an anti-democratic power grab. Judges are supposed to be free from public and governmental influence, which is what the court's majority is trying to prevent.