**AMLO Announces Judicial Reform Set for September 15**
**Date: September 12, 2024**
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) declared on September 12, 2024, that the Judicial Power of the Federation (PJF) reform will be published in the Official Journal of the Federation (DOF) on September 15, following approval from 18 out of 32 state legislatures.
AMLO emphasized that this constitutional reform required approval from the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, and at least 17 state legislatures. With 18 states already endorsing the reform, the process is now officially legal. The only remaining step is the publication, which is the responsibility of the Federal Executive.
The President expressed optimism about the September 15 publication, noting its historical significance and its embodiment of true democracy, where public servants across all three branches are elected by the people.
During his morning press conference, held at the Treasury Hall of the National Palace, AMLO highlighted the states that had voted in favor of the reform as of early September 12, 2024. These states include:
– Oaxaca (Unanimous 41 votes)
– Tabasco (24 in favor, 8 against)
– Veracruz (32 in favor, 11 against)
– Quintana Roo (21 in favor, 4 against)
– Baja California Sur (19 in favor, 2 against)
– Nayarit (24 in favor, 6 against)
– Colima (18 in favor, 5 against)
– Yucatán (19 in favor, 16 against)
– Morelos (14 in favor, 6 against)
– Baja California (20 in favor, 5 against)
– Durango (19 in favor, 6 against)
– Puebla (28 in favor, 10 against)
– Tlaxcala (31 in favor, 4 against)
– Campeche (22 in favor, 5 against)
– Sinaloa (31 in favor, 1 against)
– Guerrero (33 in favor, 9 against)
– Tamaulipas (20 in favor, 10 against)
– Zacatecas (17 in favor, 12 against)
The President anticipates further approvals in the coming days. To finalize this constitutional reform, it required the endorsement of at least 17 state legislatures, a threshold already surpassed. Despite having a majority in 27 out of the 32 state legislatures, support also came from opposition representatives in various instances.
Following its legal ratification, the necessary declarations will be issued by both chambers of the Union Congress. The reform, upon publication in the DOF, will come into effect the following day. This will initiate the extraordinary 2024-2025 electoral process, followed by a strategy session by the National Electoral Institute (INE) to prepare the logistics for the June 2025 elections.
The upcoming election will include the selection of nine Supreme Court Justices, positions in the Superior Chamber of the Electoral Tribunal, regional magistracies, and other judicial roles. Federal laws will undergo adjustments to align with the new judicial paradigm.
Local state constitutions must also be updated by 2027 to fully integrate the judicial reforms locally. The first elections under this reform will be held on the first Sunday of June 2025, ushering in a new era of democratic judicial appointments in Mexico.
**Additional Insights on Judicial Reform**
Recent developments in the judicial reform saga indicate broad support and significant legislative actions taken nationwide. In Baja California, local deputies recently convened via Zoom to approve the reform amid public protests. In a striking political move, members of the PAN party who supported the reform, the Yunes, faced expulsion from their party, with political figures like Claudia Sheinbaum asserting that history will vindicate their decision.
The Judicial Reform is seen as a cornerstone of the “fourth transformation” agenda, championed by AMLO and his allies in Morena and the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM) and Labor Party (PT). As the deadline for state legislature approvals nears, more states are expected to join the growing list endorsing this reform, showcasing Mexico’s commitment to an evolving democratic process.