**Primary Article: Judicial Workers Protest at Angel of Independence with Support from UNAM Students**
On the night of August 26, 2024, over 4,000 individuals, including members of the Federal Judiciary (PJF) from all 32 states of Mexico, gathered to stage a protest at the iconic Angel of Independence in Mexico City. The demonstrators opposed a judicial reform endorsed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and the “Fourth Transformation” movement.
The group of judiciary officers, clerks, judges, and magistrates adorned the monument’s steps with candles to symbolize their opposition to the recently approved reform by the Constitutional Points Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. Prominent figures like Bertha Xóchitl Gálvez Ruiz, a former presidential candidate from a coalition of PRI, PAN, and PRD, were also present.
The protesters chanted slogans like, “Down with the dictator! Down with the dictator! Morena, understand, justice is not for sale! The reform will fall!” in an effort to express their disapproval. Patricia Aguayo Bernal, spokesperson for PJF staff and secretary of the Tenth Collegiate Court in Labor Matters, emphasized their intent to legally challenge the reform, saying, “We will not sit back; we will speak with opposition deputies and senators to pursue all legal avenues, both nationally and internationally.”
Juana Fuentes Velázquez, director of the National Association of Circuit Magistrates and District Judges of the Federal Judiciary (JUFED), criticized the reform’s approval in the Chamber of Deputies as a mockery of the people, stating, “They have forgotten the people and used words to fulfill their whims.”
The protest concluded with a speech by federal judge Lucero de Alba Peña from Tlaxcala, who called for a minute of silence followed by a rendition of the song “Cielito Lindo.” The event ended with the national anthem.
The same day, students from the Law Faculty of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) announced a march for August 28, 2024, to defend the rule of law, finishing at the Federal Judiciary Council (CJF). The students pledged to support the judicial workers’ strike by delivering supplies, stressing that democracy rests on principles fundamental to protecting freedom, dignity, and expression.
This movement garnered backing from student representatives across various universities, including the Ibero-American University, ITAM, Panamerican University, La Salle University, and the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE), as well as the Jesuit University of Guadalajara (ITESO) and Monterrey Institute of Technology (TEC).
**Secondary Article: Judicial Reform Sparks Nationwide Debate**
The recently approved judicial reform in Mexico has sparked a nationwide debate and a series of actions from various sectors. While supporters of President López Obrador argue that the reforms are necessary for modernization and combating corruption within the judiciary, opponents claim it undermines judicial independence and paves the way for authoritarian control.
Legal experts and analysts have weighed in on the implications of the reform. Many have expressed concerns regarding the introduction of the “faceless judge” concept, which critics argue compromises transparency and accountability in the justice system.
In addition to protests by judiciary staff and law students, human rights organizations have also voiced their opposition, highlighting the potential risks to fundamental rights and freedoms. The reform, which aims to restructure the judiciary, has been seen by some as a consolidation of power under the executive branch.
As discussions continue, the opposition parties vow to scrutinize every aspect of the reform, seeking possible legal actions to halt its implementation. Amid the controversy, public opinion remains polarized, with demonstrations and counter-demonstrations planned across the country. The unfolding events will undoubtedly shape Mexico’s judicial landscape and its democratic principles in the coming months.