### Judicial Workers Protest at Otay Border and Block Bellas Artes Boulevard
**By Julio Sanchez**
**October 1, 2024**
On Tuesday morning, approximately 400 employees of the Federal Judicial Branch, along with members of the groups “México Unido” and “Quinientocracia,” staged a protest outside the commercial crossing at Otay in Tijuana. They were voicing their opposition to the recent judicial reform, which they claim negatively impacts workers’ rights and the judicial career. “We’re demanding the repeal of this harmful judicial reform,” stated Daniel Sánchez Reyes, Secretary of the Sixteenth District Court. He highlighted that the reform undermines the separation of powers and pushes Mexico towards a dictatorship.
Sánchez Reyes noted that the protest coincides with Claudia Sheinbaum’s first day as President of Mexico. “She has refused to meet with the working class and continues the narrative of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador,” he said.
Federal Executive officials remain steadfast in their refusal to discuss the judicial reform, added Reyes. At about 11 a.m., the protesters, carrying banners with messages like “Sorry for the inconvenience, we are trying to repair democracy! No to dictatorship!” and “When the nation is in danger, everything is allowed except NOT defending it. For freedom and justice,” moved to block Bellas Artes Boulevard and Josefina Rendón Parra Street, near the SENTRI lane access.
Security and traffic officials from the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) and the State’s Mobility Institute (IMOS) redirected traffic around Bellas Artes Boulevard, causing significant gridlock. Traffic resumed at around noon.
Joel Villavicencio Gutiérrez, a citizen and representative of the anti-AMLO National Front (FRENA), stated that the Tijuana Bar Association collected about 200 signatures and plans to gather more to challenge the judicial reform in court. He criticized the legislative process for the reform, pointing out irregularities and rushed approvals without proper review, citing the quick passage in the Oaxaca Congress as an example.
Villavicencio Gutiérrez accused the Executive Branch of attempting to absorb the Judicial Branch, similar to its influence over the Legislative Branch through overrepresentation. He also noted that this reform diminishes the professional standards of the Judiciary, which impacts democracy in Mexico.
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### Additional Information on Judicial Protests
**Mexico City Judicial Workers Rally Against Reform**
More protests erupted across the nation, including a significant mobilization in Mexico City. Workers marched to prominent governmental buildings, openly challenging the judicial reform. Key figures from the judiciary and various legal associations stepped forward, explaining that the reform threatens the independence of the judiciary and centralizes power in the Executive Branch.
**Reform Controversy in Oaxaca**
The quick passage of the judicial reform in Oaxaca without sufficient legislative review has been particularly controversial. Critics argue that the hasty approval reflects a broader trend of diminished legislative scrutiny and increased executive interference. Legal experts nationwide are urging the Mexican Congress to revisit the reform, ensure a thorough review process, and uphold judicial independence.
**International Organizations Express Concern**
Several international bodies, including the International Bar Association, have expressed apprehension about the judicial reform in Mexico, warning that weakening judicial independence could have severe implications for the rule of law in the country. They emphasized the need for maintaining a balanced separation of powers to ensure democratic governance.
For more updates on this developing story, stay tuned to TJGringo.com.
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By revising the original article and adding additional insights from broader sources, TJGringo.com provides a comprehensive look at the ongoing judicial protests in Mexico.