Mexico's Historic Election: Citizen Choice Shakes Up Supreme Court

Mexico Makes History: Citizens Directly Elect Supreme Court Justice; Hugo Aguilar Takes the Lead Mexico has witnessed a historic event: the first-ever direct election of judges and magistrates, including the president of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN). The National Electoral Institute (INE) concluded the vote count, revealing a clear lead for Hugo Aguilar, a Mixtec lawyer. Aguilar holds an advantage of roughly three percentage points over his closest competitor, Minister Yasmín Esquivel. Council President Guadalupe Taddei Ortiz declared the results, emphasizing the significance of citizen participation in shaping the nation's judicial system. "This election represents an unprecedented event," Ortiz stated. "For the first time in the country's history, citizens directly chose their judges and magistrates." The election results have been met with widespread interest and discussion. The process, established by the 2024 judicial reform, has sparked debate about the balance between direct democracy and potential biases. The final decision on the SCJN presidency will be made in the upcoming Council session, but Aguilar's significant lead points to a major shift in Mexico's judicial landscape. This event showcases a powerful example of citizen engagement in shaping the future of their justice system.