Former Chapo Guzmán lawyer becomes judge – election surprises everyone!

Former Chapo Guzmán lawyer becomes judge – election surprises everyone!

On June 1, 2025, voters in Mexico went to the polls for a very special election, the first of its kind in the world. Here, 881 judges were elected at the federal level, including the nine members of the country's highest court. Around 1,800 judges from 19 of the 32 states should also receive a new mandate. But the result of this election was anything but traditional.

The dhnet reports that voter turnout was very low at just 13%, representing about 13 million voters out of nearly 100 million registered votes nationwide. In a country where the justice system is often plagued by corruption and a lack of independence, the elections were seen as a move to combat existing “privileges”. President Claudia Sheinbaum described the election as a “complete success.” Her predecessors, including Andrés Manuel López Obrador, had supported the election to restore trust in the judiciary.

Unique and controversial

A look at the election also shows the fierce controversy associated with it. According to a report by La Croix There are concerns about possible political influence on the judiciary. While the presidential office presented the elections as an advantage in the fight against organized crime and corruption, numerous demonstrators took to the streets to protest against the election and the identified risks.

One of the most exciting candidates is Silvia Delgado, a former lawyer for Joaquín “Chapo” Guzmán, who has now been able to run as a criminal justice judge in Ciudad Juárez. This example shows how challenging it is for voters to choose between hundreds of candidates, many of them little known or controversial. During the election process, voters for the Supreme Court even had to choose their nine favorites from 64 candidates - that was anything but an easy task.

A step into the future?

The reform that led to this extraordinary election was initiated by López Obrador to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and reduce the power of crime. The elections are seen as part of a comprehensive constitutional reform aimed at fighting corruption. Nevertheless, skepticism remains high - many fear a latent influence of the executive on the judiciary.

In summary, the coming years will set the course for Mexico's justice system. Supplementary elections are once again planned for 2027, which could significantly influence the future direction of judicial policy. Questions remain as to whether the newly elected judges are able to regain the trust of the population and meet the challenges of a country marked by violence.

Burgenland has its issues, Mexico has its elections, and what both have in common is that voters are always looking for the truth and justice.