**Federal Judiciary Council Magistrate Claims Her Inclusion in Candidate List Without Applying**
On February 16, 2025, it was reported that Lilia Mónica López Benítez, a member of the Federal Judiciary Council, expressed her surprise at being listed as a candidate for the upcoming extraordinary judicial election set for June 1 of the same year. The Senate’s Board of Directors had submitted this list to the National Electoral Institute, including her name despite her not applying for any candidacy. Currently serving since June 20, 2022, as a councilor of the Federal Judiciary Council, López Benítez also holds a position in the Mexican Association of Women Judges.
López Benítez immediately took to social media to voice her concerns: “I have been informed that despite declining and notifying the Senate about not applying for this position, my name appears on the candidate list sent to the National Electoral Institute. I firmly stand against the ongoing judicial reforms and disorder,” she posted.
The National Electoral Institute revealed the candidate lists for roles in the extraordinary judicial election, scheduled for June 1, 2025. The election will determine positions such as:
– Ministers of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN)
– Magistrates of the Judicial Discipline Tribunal
– Magistrates of the Superior Chamber of the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary (TEPJF)
– Magistrates for the regional chambers across various cities in Mexico including Guadalajara, Monterrey, Xalapa, Mexico City, and Toluca.
Prominent figures on the list connected to the current governmental vision include ministers Lenia Batres Guadarrama, Yasmín Esquivel Mossa, and Loretta Ortiz Ahlf. Others vying for positions range from Paula María García Villegas Sánchez Cordero to Eduardo Santillán Pérez.
The list is pending approval from the General Council of the INE, which intends to address the matter in a session scheduled for February 17, 2025.
**Secondary Article: Judicial Election Process Under Scrutiny**
Amidst the ongoing judicial reforms in Mexico, the upcoming extraordinary election has attracted significant attention, particularly regarding the procedural integrity and transparency of candidate selection. Critics argue that political influences tarnishing the judiciary’s independence are more evident with individuals associated with governmental bodies making up a substantial portion of the candidate list.
The prospective election candidates are set to influence critical legal outcomes over the coming years, making this an election of paramount importance given the current political climate. Discussions and debates are expected to intensify as the approval date approaches.
Stakeholders and observers are calling for stricter measures to ensure that the selection process upholds the democratic values of transparency and meritocracy. The scrutiny comes as the INE prepares for the final list approval, highlighting the need for a judiciary that remains impartial regardless of political pressures.