Zacatecas, Mexico – Minister Yasmín Esquivel Mossa, a candidate for the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, delivered a keynote address at the Autonomous University of Zacatecas, detailing the historic scope of the Judicial Reform, a profound transformation of Mexico’s institutional landscape.
In an open dialogue with students, academics, and citizens, Minister Esquivel emphasized that this reform marks a fundamental shift in Mexico’s justice system. For the first time, the public will directly elect judges, magistrates, and ministers. This unprecedented move aims to democratize one of the Mexican state’s most opaque branches.
«For years, judicial positions were determined by elites, committees, or recommendations. Today, that changes. Today, the people decide,» she asserted. The upcoming election, scheduled for June 1st, will allow citizens to vote for 881 judicial positions via six color-coded ballots. Accessible consultation mechanisms, including the «CPU: Know Your Candidate, Practice Your Vote, and Locate Your Polling Place» app and website, will provide detailed profiles, backgrounds, and proposals of each candidate.
Minister Esquivel further outlined the reform’s key benefits. Firstly, it mandates a one-year maximum timeframe for resolving judicial cases, addressing the system’s notorious delays. Secondly, it requires all judicial sessions to be public, transparent, and justified, eliminating private agreements that have eroded public trust.
Additionally, the reform establishes the Judicial Disciplinary Tribunal, a new body to sanction misconduct within the judiciary. “There can no longer be impunity among judges or arbitrary decisions without consequence,” she stated. The reform also ensures gender parity, guaranteeing women’s equal representation in decision-making roles, not as a quota, but as an act of social justice.
