Mexicans will vote Sunday in the country’s first judicial elections, a move that has been met with both excitement and concern. The vote comes as power in Mexico has been increasingly concentrated in the president’s office, and organized crime wields significant influence in many parts of the country.
Concerns Over Judicial Independence
Critics worry that electing judges will weaken checks and balances on government and stack the courts in favor of the ruling party. They argue that this could lead to a concentration of power within all three branches of government.
Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador led the push for a new system where citizens would directly select judges instead of relying on lawyers’ associations or other groups to recommend candidates. López Obrador was at odds with Mexican courts, which regularly struck down his reform proposals.
Key Features of the Overhaul
The judicial overhaul includes several significant changes:
- Term Limits: Sets term limits for high-ranking federal prosecutors who investigate crimes against public servants.
- Congressional Approval: Requires federal prosecutors (except those investigating crimes against public servants) to get approval from Congress before bringing charges against anyone accused by lawmakers.
Sheinbaum continues to champion this overhaul, stating it aims to prevent abuses of power within all three branches of government. However, critics argue it will allow presidents like López Obrador to take control over the courts and stack them with loyalists from his party.
Public Sentiment and Voter Awareness
In theory, having citizens select their own judges through popular vote is key to purging corruption from the courts. José Antonio Ortega Martínez, an opposition senator who initially opposed Sheinbaum’s proposal but now supports her re-election bid as Mexico City mayor, stated:
“They know there are two options: one is more corrupt than another.”
However, some experts warn that voters may not have enough information about candidates running for judge positions. In Mexico City alone, there are 14 seats up for election across five electoral districts, each representing around 2 million people. Candidates must collect signatures from at least 1% of residents living within their districts.
Supreme Court Rulings and Candidate Qualifications
Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled last week that any candidate can run regardless of experience or qualifications. This means even individuals who don’t meet basic requirements, such as being registered attorneys, can still run. This decision has raised concerns among many legal professionals, as it undermines confidence in institutions involved in training lawyers.
Carlos Sada Solana, former attorney general under President Felipe Calderón, expressed concern:
“It sends an unfortunate signal: If you don’t have credentials or experience, you can still be elected judge.”
The Supreme Court also ruled that only those who live within their respective districts can run; however, they do not need to be registered residents. As long as they live there temporarily, they technically qualify.
Ongoing Criminal Investigations
In recent months, Mexican authorities have arrested several dozen suspected members of organized crime groups during raids conducted across six states. These operations were aimed at gathering evidence related to activities such as extortion, money laundering, and drug trafficking.
Mexican officials announced plans following these searches, resulting in over forty arrests linked to various criminal organizations. Mexican Attorney General Alejandro Gómez Guerra emphasized the importance of cooperation between federal, state, and local governments to effectively combat transnational criminal networks operating along the US-Mexico border.
Investigations are ongoing into possible connections between seized assets found during search operations and major cartels operating regionally and nationwide.
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
