Proponents say it will make judges more accountable but critics fear it undermines their independence.

Mexico’s Senate has approved a controversial judicial reform under which judges will be elected by popular vote.

Its supporters say the changes will make judges more accountable to the Mexican people but critics argue it undermines the country’s system of checks and balances and will strengthen the power of the governing Morena party.

The bill has triggered strikes and protests, with demonstrators earlier breaking into the building where the vote was due to take place.

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Among those who have criticised the changes is Supreme Court Chief Justice Norma Piña.

She warned the proposed model would “generate tension between judges’ duty to be independent and impartial and their need to make rulings which are popular in order to attract votes”.

  • TroyEnglish
    10•6 days ago

    Canada only has appointed judges, and their appointments are almost uniformly meritorious. It’s so much better than elected judges and keeps politics out of the Rule of Law. I think Mexico is making a mistake here. But perhaps it suits their specific needs.

    • @[email protected]English
      5•6 days ago

      No, it doesn’t suit the needs of the country, it suits the needs of the political party of the president.

      Everyone with half a brain agrees this is bad and will make any judge bound by their promises in campaign (ha, more like the promises to their party and promoter) and allow any one to do the job of someone that should have good qualifications.

    • PistcowEnglish
      5•6 days ago

      I wish the US population had a way to vote out lifetime appointment judges. Conservatives won the strategy of packing the courts and governing through the judicial system.

  • d00phyEnglish
    6•6 days ago

    Can’t help but think this is a Bad Thing. Mainly for the reason cited by their current chief justice.

  • @PugJesusEnglish
    2•6 days ago

    I suspect it’s a bad choice in the long run, but hopefully Morena can get some good out of it at least currently.