### Tribunal Halts Publication of Judicial Reform; Sheinbaum Attempted to Stop It, Says Spanish Daily
On September 13, 2024, the Thirty-Second Circuit Court of Colima issued a provisional suspension to prevent the federal government’s executive branch from publishing the federal judicial reform in the Official Journal of the Federation (DOF). The reform had been slated for publication on September 15, 2024, after being approved by Congress and a majority of state legislatures.
The court’s decision would hold until at least October 11, 2024. Both houses of Congress convened on September 13, 2024, to announce the completion of the reform process. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador had aimed to publish the decree by September 15, enabling it to take effect the following day.
The indirect injunction, numbered 1125//2024-VIII, was filed by the Iris Foundation for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights. The foundation contested the constitutional reform’s content and the procedure used to approve it, citing the alleged expiration of the legal timeframe allocated to the House of Representatives for considering López Obrador’s initiative submitted on February 5, 2024.
The court admitted the motion for the temporary suspension, acknowledging that the case should typically be outside their jurisdiction due to past conflicts of interest among the judges. Nevertheless, they proceeded because no other circuit court existed in Colima, and the injunction was filed by a civil association, not by the judges themselves.
According to a report by Spanish daily ABC, president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum allegedly urged Morena senators and deputies to delay the approval of the judicial reform until she assumed office. She wanted to revise specific points causing concern among business leaders and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners. However, in a private meeting with López Obrador, she eventually agreed to move forward with the original plan.
The judicial reform, according to the Spanish daily, contained elements Sheinbaum publicly supported but privately opposed. It included provisions requiring elections for judges and magistrates, something she was reportedly uneasy about. The reform resulted in a complicated dynamic where López Obrador significantly influenced the appointments in the upcoming administration, effectively limiting Sheinbaum’s autonomy.
On the same day, opposition parties, including Movimiento Ciudadano (MC), Partido de Acción Nacional (PAN), and Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), chose not to attend the sessions to ratify the constitutionality of the judicial reform in protest. They argued the initiative was rushed through Congress without adequate debate. The reform journey from approval by both congressional chambers to ratification by at least 20 state legislatures took only a little over 24 hours.
Senate sessions were scheduled at 2:00 PM and the House of Representatives at 5:00 PM to finalize the validation and send it for publication in the DOF.
### Related News: Future Impacts of the Judicial Reform
Recent developments related to the judicial reform suggest significant impacts on Mexico’s political landscape and governance. Experts predict that López Obrador’s influence will persist well into Sheinbaum’s presidency. Critics argue that the appointments López Obrador made before his term ended are likely to cement his policies and control over critical aspects of the government, effectively curbing the incoming president’s ability to implement new policies.
Furthermore, analysts have pointed out that this move could create considerable tension within the governing party, Morena. With key positions filled by López Obrador loyalists, Sheinbaum might face internal conflicts, potentially hampering her legislative agenda and governance initiatives.
Internationally, the reform’s mandate for judicial elections has raised eyebrows among Mexico’s trade partners, particularly within NAFTA, who fear it might impact the stability of legal rulings and business operations. They have expressed concerns over the implications for future trade agreements and economic partnerships.
As these events unfold, it remains to be seen how Sheinbaum will navigate the complex political environment shaped by her predecessor and how it will affect Mexico’s domestic and international relations.
For more details and further updates on this developing story, visit TJGringo.com regularly.