Mexico’s 2025 judicial elections marked a historic shift toward democratizing justice, but the true transformation now depends on the integrity, independence, and accountability of those elected to lead it
Key takeaways:
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Historic election with low turnout — Mexican citizens elected judicial authorities for the first time, but low voter participation shows limited civic engagement.
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Controversial process — Candidate accusations and high campaign spending raised concerns about transparency and accountability.
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Responsibility lies with elected ministers — Citizens pushed for change, and now it’s up to the new officials to build a fair and independent justice system.
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On June 1, Mexico experienced an unprecedented event — the country’s first-ever elections for the Judicial Branch, in which 881 judicial positions were filled, including ministers, judges, and magistrates. This historic process is a direct result of the judicial reform enacted in September 2024, aimed at transforming the Mexican judicial system into one that is more efficient, humane, austere, and free from corruption.
Campaigns began on March 30, 2025, under strict regulations — no public or private funding was allowed, and promotion was limited to forums and organic social media. To encourage informed voting, the National Electoral Institute (INE) launched Conóceles (Get to Know Them), a digital platform that allowed citizens to review candidate profiles in a transparent and accessible way.
Rising controversies and low turnout
Throughout the electoral process, several controversies emerged that cast doubt on the legitimacy of certain candidates. Allegations were reported against some candidates for alleged ties to drug cartels and cases of sexual abuse. Nevertheless, their candidacies were approved by committees composed of members from all three branches of government, a decision that raises serious questions about the rigor and transparency of the selection process itself.
There were also reports of early campaigning, particularly by candidates for ministerial positions, which drew criticism from observers and citizens. Another controversial issue was the increase in the campaign spending cap which rose from $220,000 pesos approved by INE, to $1,468,000 pesos for national positions, such as ministers on the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN).
Despite the 62% budget cut imposed by the Chamber of Deputies in December 2024, the INE carried out the elections normally. Voters received six ballots of different colors, each corresponding to a judicial category. However, voter turnout was low, ranging between just 12.57% and 13.32% of the eligible population.
Even so, Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, emphasized that “nearly 13 million Mexican men and women participated in the Judicial Branch election, more than double the turnout in the vote on the trial of former presidents.”
Who will shape the future of Mexican law?
The SCJN, the nation’s highest authority in the Judicial Branch, will be composed of the following ministers, who will take office on September 1:
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- Hugo Aguilar Ortiz — A Mixtec lawyer and indigenous rights advocate; elected president of the Supreme Court
- Lenia Batres — Promotes social justice and austerity
- Yasmín Esquivel — Supreme Court justice since 2019; faced plagiarism allegations
- Loretta Ortiz — Supports decentralized justice and socially focused rulings
- María Estela Ríos — Labor law expert
- Giovanni Figueroa — International academic and human rights defender
- Irving Espinosa — Magistrate with experience in Mexico City’s government
- Arístides Guerrero — Proposes a Mobile Court and rulings in indigenous languages
- Sara Herrerías — Human rights prosecutor
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This group will be responsible for interpreting the Mexican Constitution and ensuring respect for human rights in the country, within a context of institutional transformation.
What’s next for Mexico’s legal landscape?
Despite this democratic milestone, access to justice in Mexico remains limited. In fact, a National Survey on Victimization and Perception of Public Safety showed that 47.9% of criminal investigations received no response, according to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the country’s main government institution in charge of statistics and census data.
Further, Mexico’s impunity rate was 93.63% in 2023, reflecting a deep mistrust of the judicial system’s ability to address and resolve cases affecting citizens. In budgetary terms, Mexico is among the countries that spend the least on justice, with a 0.63% expenditure relative to GDP in 2021, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Overall, the judicial reform being undertaken includes a series of proposals aimed at strengthening the country’s justice system and ensuring its independence, efficiency, and proximity to citizens. Key measures include:
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- Budget allocation — At least 2% of federal and state budgets are earmarked for judicial branches
- Collective justice access — Stronger mechanisms will be developed for group lawsuits and shared rights
- Ruling enforcement — Clear frameworks for executing judicial decisions will be established
- Feminicide classification — Standardized recognition and investigation protocols nationwide will be enacted
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These proposals are outlined in the document Comprehensive Reform of the Justice System in Mexico: Challenges and Proposals, prepared by the SCJN and aim to address the main challenges facing Mexico’s judicial system.
Although the electoral process was framed as a democratic step forward, critics warn it may politicize the Judicial Branch. Some argue the reform could enable one party to control all three branches of government, risking legal uncertainty and weakening transparency. Indeed, the election’s low turnout, candidate allegations, and rising campaign costs raised concerns about the legitimacy and effectiveness of this new judicial election model.
Still, the 2025 judicial election marks a milestone in Mexico’s democratic history, but it also presents profound challenges. The key will be to monitor the implementation of the reform, strengthen judicial independence, and ensure that new ministers and judges act with ethics, professionalism, and social commitment.
Critically, Mexico needs a justice system that is not only accessible but also effective, empathetic, and trustworthy. Despite limited civic participation, the first step toward judicial transformation has been taken. Now, the true responsibility lies with those elected to lead and deliver meaningful change.
You can find out more about the challenges faced by courts here
