El Chapo's Former Lawyer Elected Judge in Mexico
Above: Silvia Delgado votes at a polling station during Mexico's first-ever elections for all judges and magistrates in Ciudad Juarez on June 1, 2025. Image copyright: Herika Martinez/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Opposition narrative
El Chapo's lawyer winning a judicial seat was inevitable in Mexico's politicized election. With only 13% turnout and Morena's partisan "cheat sheets," the vote became a popularity contest and a cartel playground. Sinaloa's influence and voter biases favor loyalists over impartial judges, eroding the rule of law as courts bend to politics or crime.
Pro-government narrative
Mexican voters want more democracy, which is why they voted for Morena in a landslide last year and supported judicial reform. While certain judicial candidates are controversial, that's what democracy is all about — giving the people a role in who judges society, rather than the old guard of judicial elites who were just as corrupt as anyone else.
Metaculus Prediction
Editor's Note
This story currently has limited coverage. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our reporting as additional information becomes available.
