Claudia Sheinbaum, the President, has officially enacted the new Organic Law of the Federal Judicial Branch through a decree published in the evening edition of the Federal Official Gazette on December 20, 2024. This law formalizes the creation of two significant bodies: the Judicial Discipline Tribunal and the Judicial Administration Body. The former is tasked with investigating and sanctioning administrative responsibilities within the judiciary, while the latter deals with administrative personnel issues.
A notable feature includes the concept of “faceless judges” to tackle organized crime cases. Additionally, the law reduces the number of Supreme Court Justices from 11 to 9 and shortens their term from 15 to 12 years. It highlights the integration of gender perspectives into the judicial career, aiming to address issues of harassment and other forms of violence.
The decree further mandates that workers’ rights remain protected and that certain financial structures such as trusts and mandates under the Federal Judicial Branch will be dissolved. The new law, effective December 21, 2024, dictates that the Supreme Court will continue to adhere to aspects of a previous organic law established in 2021, except in electoral matters.
Another significant provision is that retiring justices will not receive a pension unless they resign prior to the deadline for an extraordinary election in 2025. The decree also points out that the salaries of judicial officers will remain unchanged until the end of 2024, after which they must align with constitutional salary limits.
The Transition Commission, composed of key judicial and governmental figures, will oversee the implementation of this plan, focusing on the redistribution of resources across the judiciary. This includes enabling the new Judicial Discipline Tribunal and supporting resource transfer operations within the judiciary.
**Secondary Article:**
**Update on Autonomous Organizations Dissolution**
In a related development, the government has announced the extinction of seven autonomous organizations, including the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information, and Personal Data Protection (INAI), as per a separate decree published in the Official Gazette. The move, effective December 21, 2024, aims at streamlining and consolidating various bodies within the government. This decision has sparked debate among policymakers and experts regarding the impact on transparency and governance efficiency. Critics argue it could hinder checks and balances, while proponents suggest it will improve governmental coherence and reduce bureaucracy.
Stay tuned for more updates across legal and governmental reforms impacting Mexico.