### Norma Piña Seeks Another Consultation on Suspension of Judicial Reform Implementation
Norma Lucía Piña Hernández, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), issued a new consultation on September 18, 2024, regarding whether the SCJN can suspend the implementation of the judicial reform promulgated by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on September 15, 2024. This inquiry comes in response to a controversy filed by the National Association of Circuit Magistrates and District Judges of the Federal Judiciary (JUFED).
The association reported alleged irregularities in the legislative process through which the reform was approved, as well as in its material content. Given the urgency, the matter was assigned to Justice Juan Luis González Alcántara Carrancá for the development of a project.
According to an agreement published in the SCJN’s electronic notification list, the Tribunal Plenary will consider the appropriateness of the controversy in line with Article 11, Section XXII of the Organic Law of the Federal Judiciary.
On September 5, 2024, Chief Justice Piña initiated two consultations to determine if the SCJN could order the suspension of the judicial reform process. These consultations were assigned to Justice Lenia Batres Guadarrama, who had opposed the strike by Federal Judiciary workers.
Juana Fuentes Velázquez, JUFED’s National Director, requested on September 3, 2024, that the SCJN rule on the respect for judicial independence and the reform decree. She called for the suspension of the process and declaration of its invalidity due to the alleged violation of the judiciary’s autonomy and independence.
Fuentes Velázquez argued for an urgent virtual response because the general discussion of the reform proposal was scheduled to begin that day. She also noted that the SCJN’s workforce voted to suspend activities to defend judicial independence and human rights.
The JUFED’s plea is for the SCJN to issue measures to halt the constitutional reform process until the Plenary rules on the matter’s substance. Additionally, Fuentes Velázquez requested that the SCJN maintain the judiciary’s current structure until a thorough national dialogue can address the root causes of corruption, insecurity, and impunity, eventually leading to a well-informed reform proposal.
The JUFED emphasized that the proposed judicial reform would effectively dismiss all current judges and magistrates.
### Additional Update:
**Controversial Judicial Reform Law Faces Heavy Opposition**
The new judicial reform law introduced by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador continues to be contentious. As reports emerged about the potential dismissal of judges and magistrates, the opposition gained momentum. Legal experts and human rights organizations voiced their concerns about the reform undermining judicial independence.
The President defended the reform, claiming it is crucial for battling corruption and inefficiency within the judiciary. “This reform is necessary for a transparent and accountable judiciary,” López Obrador emphasized.
However, critics argue that the reform places excessive power in the executive’s hands, potentially compromising the checks and balances essential for a democratic system.
Public protests have also been held across several cities, with citizens and legal professionals demanding the preservation of judicial autonomy.
As the SCJN deliberates the legitimacy of suspending the reform, all eyes are on how this critical issue will unfold. The judicial and political communities await the court’s ruling, which could set a significant precedent for the balance of power in Mexico.
For more updates on this developing story, stay tuned to TJGringo.com.