Will Mexico’s judicial elections hurt democracy or make the courts accountable?
Associated Press3 days
Mexico Prepares for First-Ever Judicial Elections
Above: Posters displaying candidate and election information in front of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation in Mexico City, Mexico, on May 27, 2025. Image copyright: Stephania Corpi/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Spin
Government-critical narrative
This is a radical experiment that threatens judicial independence and the rule of law by making judges accountable to political pressures rather than legal principles. The reform will weaken checks on executive power while opening the courts to influence from organized crime and special interests, and ultimately undermining democracy in Mexico.
Pro-government narrative
Mexico's judicial elections give citizens direct control over who interprets and applies the law, finally breaking the grip of corrupt elites who have used the judiciary to block popular reforms and protect their interests. This is a historic change that will make Mexico the world's most democratic nation while offering those who have never had access to the justice system a massive opportunity.