**Congress Approves Judicial Election Committee**
In a decisive move, both chambers of the Congress of the Union have approved the establishment of a Judicial Selection Committee that will oversee the evaluation of candidates aspiring to become judges, magistrates, and members of the Judicial Discipline Tribunal. This decision was solidified with 75 votes in favor and 40 against in the Senate. Earlier on the same day, the House of Representatives passed a similar resolution with 326 votes for and 102 against.
The favorable votes were predominantly cast by the political factions of Morena, the Green Ecologist Party (PVEM), and the Labor Party (PT), while opposition from the National Action Party (PAN) and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was apparent in their dissenting votes. Members of the Citizens’ Movement (MC) chose to exit the congressional sessions in protest.
The proposed members for the Evaluation Committee include Maday Merino Damián, Maribel Concepción Méndez De Lara, Ana Patricia Briseño Torres, María Gabriela Sánchez García, and Andrés Norberto García Repper Favila. However, this process has been criticized by opposition leaders as being heavily controlled by the ruling party, Morena. PAN senator Ricardo Anaya Cortés expressed concerns over the lack of genuine electoral freedom, alleging that Morena’s control over the process undermines democratic integrity.
Supporting this sentiment, PRI senator Alma Carolina Viggiano Austria labeled the judicial reform as potentially legal but lacking legitimacy, criticizing the process as being unduly influenced by a partisan-appointed committee. Furthermore, MC senator Luis Donaldo Colosio Riojas condemned the perceived exclusionary tactics of the majority party, claiming it as an undemocratic allocation of committee spots.
On the other hand, Ricardo Monreal Ávila, a Morena leader, defended the process, arguing that the chosen candidates fulfilled legal prerequisites, including sufficient judicial experience and independence from political affiliations within the past three years. Monreal emphasized the necessity of meeting deadlines set by the reform, even in the absence of opposition contributions.
The constitutional reform dictates that each branch of the Union must form an Evaluation Committee by October 31, 2024, composed of five reputable individuals from the legal field. The main role of this committee will be to assess the qualifications of the candidates, ensuring adherence to constitutional and legal standards.
—
**Additional Coverage**
**Judicial Appointment Process Faces Heavy Scrutiny Amid Partisan Concerns**
As Mexico paves the way for reshaping its judiciary selection process, the approval of a new Judicial Selection Committee has raised alarms across oppositional parties. Critics argue that the true spirit of democracy is under threat, citing the undemocratic sway held by the Morena party over the selection process.
The committee, intended to evaluate and approve candidates for judicial positions, is under scrutiny for potential bias due to its members’ connections to Morena and allied parties. Paulina Rubio Fernández of the PAN expressed concerns regarding potential biases, stressing that the Committee comprises individuals closely associated with Morena, thereby questioning the impartiality of candidate evaluations.
Significant positions such as those held by Andrés Norberto García Repper Favila, who has prior ties to Morena as a substitute representative, and other committee members linked to various political influences, add to apprehensions about the political contamination of the judicial selection process.
While proponents argue that the reform aligns with necessary updates and adheres strictly to constitutional mandates, the overarching sentiment within opposition circles remains skeptical. As the nation inches closer to the June 2025 elections, these decisions continue to spark contentious debate, emphasizing the critical balance between governance and judicial independence in a rapidly evolving political landscape.