### Primary Article: Judicial Workers Strike in Baja California
In Baja California, a significant strike has been initiated by at least 1,200 employees of the Fifteenth District of the Federal Judiciary. These workers are voicing their dissatisfaction with the judicial reform proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which they believe will negatively impact their professional careers.
In Tijuana, around 200 individuals occupied one of the lanes of Paseo de los Héroes, near the courthouse in the Zona del Río, from 11 am. Protesting on the central median and sidewalk, they aimed to raise awareness among drivers and pedestrians about their cause. The protesters expressed concerns over the proposed reform to have judicial positions filled by election, fearing it would necessitate political affiliations and commitments that could undermine judicial independence.
“The idea that positions will be filled by election means we will have to align with political parties and make commitments to certain power groups to access these roles. Such commitments will compromise our independence when making judicial decisions. If a judge has commitments to your opposing party in a trial, how do you think the decision will go? It will definitely be against you,” explained Daniel Sánchez Reyes, secretary of the Sixteenth District Court in Tijuana.
The most noticeable impact of this reform is on the career progression of Judiciary employees. The reform nullifies their professional trajectories, stifling the career advancement of experienced and long-serving officials, clerks, and secretaries who could eventually become judges or magistrates.
“We are being pressured not to participate in the strike or protests by the official union, curiously not by the heads of our departments. We are quite independent from them. While the union is still polling to decide on a strike, we are already on strike,” commented Sánchez Reyes.
The strike is set to continue on Tuesday across Mexico. In Tijuana, workers plan to register their attendance at 9 am but will remain outside the offices. Of the 55,000 Federal Judiciary employees in Mexico, over 1,200 are in Tijuana. Most will only handle urgent cases as stipulated in the constitutional Article 22 and the Amparo Law Article 15, such as torture, enforced disappearance, or isolation.
### Secondary Article: Nationwide Judiciary Strike Gains Momentum
In addition to the strike in Baja California, judiciary workers across Mexico have joined the protest against the proposed judicial reforms. This large-scale movement has seen various demonstrations and work stoppages in key cities including Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
The concerns echoed nationwide are similar, with workers fearing the loss of professional integrity and judicial independence. The proposed reforms, if implemented, could drastically change the judiciary’s landscape, making it susceptible to political influences.
In Mexico City, a large crowd gathered at the Supreme Court, holding banners and chanting slogans demanding the preservation of their rights and professional growth opportunities. A spokesperson for the judiciary employees there pointed out that elective positions would erode the merit-based system, making the judiciary a political battleground.
In Guadalajara, the judiciary workers’ union has released a statement asserting their stance against the reforms, emphasizing the potential risks to justice administration. They have called for an urgent dialogue with the government to reconsider the reform’s implications.
Monterrey witnessed a symbolic act where judiciary employees dressed in black, parading through the main streets to signify the ‘death of justice’ should the reforms pass. This demonstration drew significant media attention and public sympathy.
The federal government, meanwhile, maintains that the reform aims to make the judiciary more accountable and transparent. However, judiciary employees nationwide remain skeptical and resolute in their stance, calling for the safeguarding of judicial independence and career progression based on merit.
As the nationwide strike continues, the tension between the judiciary workers and the federal government is reaching a critical juncture. The outcome of this dispute could set a significant precedent for the future of Mexico’s judicial system.