**IEE BC Awaits Guidelines to Determine 2025 Election Participation: President**
Luis Alberto Hernández Morales, President of the General Council of the State Electoral Institute (IEE) of Baja California, has stated that specific guidelines are needed to establish whether the institute will collaborate with the National Electoral Institute (INE) in organizing the extraordinary election of judges, magistrates, and ministers scheduled for June 2025.
“We’re awaiting more concrete guidelines. Even yesterday (October 8), there was an initiative under discussion in the Senate. It’s still undecided if there will be a local election. Meanwhile, we are conducting a thorough analysis. The INE has informed us that they will set up analysis panels,” Hernández Morales explained after attending the inauguration of the Government Commission, Legislation, and Regulatory Improvement of the XXV Tijuana City Council at the Municipal Palace.
He emphasized that the full participation of the IEE is contingent on the potential for concurrent federal and local elections involving judicial positions. The ongoing uncertainty surrounds whether the state’s election will coincide with the extraordinary federal elections in 2025, alongside the ordinance set for 2027 to renew judicial positions.
The decree on judicial reform, recently published by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on September 15, indicates that besides the extraordinary election in 2025, regular elections should follow in 2027. This schedule includes renewing half of the positions in each judicial circuit during the first vote and completing the renewal with the subsequent election.
As the Congress of Baja California deliberates the participation of the IEE, Hernández Morales noted, “If they decide we should participate, we will. If not, we will still contribute significantly, especially in promoting educational forums for aspiring judges.” Moreover, should the local power join the federal election in 2025, the IEE BC is ready to organize the event alongside the INE, as successfully demonstrated with the June 2024 elections.
Hernández Morales also acknowledged the unique challenge in electing judges compared to conventional government and legislative elections, particularly in crafting a clear electoral offering to the public. He cited the necessity of rigorous analysis in devising the electoral cartography and ballots, being unprecedented elements in this context.
The IEE anticipates the commencement of analysis panels facilitated by the INE, as invited by its president, Guadalupe Taddei Zavala, marking the start of the 2024-2025 electoral process, which Hernández Morales attended.
**Secondary Article: Judicial Elections and Legislative Reforms**
Amidst ongoing legislative discussions, the proposed reforms in the electoral process for judicial positions continue to be a topic of national interest. The reforms aim to democratize the judiciary by transitioning to an election-based system for appointing judges and magistrates, a move expected to enhance transparency and accountability within the system.
The potential reforms are part of broader efforts to reshape Mexico’s judicial landscape, as part of President López Obrador’s transformation agenda before leaving office in 2024. These efforts aim to address longstanding concerns about the impartiality and effectiveness of the judicial system.
However, the transition to elected judicial positions raises questions about the process’s impact and viability; critics warn of potential politicization risks undermining judicial independence. Proponents argue that these elections will democratize the system and ensure that judges and magistrates are directly accountable to the public.
Engagement sessions and analysis panels, like those suggested by the INE and the IEE, are crucial in navigating this reform period, fostering a balanced approach to preserve judicial integrity while embracing democratic principles. The discussions and legislative decisions in the coming months will be pivotal in shaping the future of judicial elections in Mexico.