Mexico Enacts landmark Judicial Career and Administrative Responsibility Laws
In a significant stride towards reforming the Mexican judiciary, the recently approved secondary laws of the judicial power reform have been published in the Official Gazette. The two new decrees, the Law of the Judicial Career and the Amendments to the General Law of Administrative Responsibilities, came into effect on Friday, following their publication.
The Law of the Judicial Career introduces measures to prohibit judges and other high-ranking officials from appointing family members, partners, or individuals with whom they have conflicts of interest. It also outlines processes for entry, training, promotion, performance evaluation, retention, and separation within the judicial career, and establishes the Single Registry of Public Servants in the Judicial Career.
The law mandates that public servants participate in training courses offered by the Judicial School and pass performance evaluations to maintain and advance in their judicial careers.
Simultaneously, the amendments to the General Law of Administrative Responsibilities designate the relevant disciplinary tribunals to investigate and impose sanctions on public servants. For the Federal Judiciary, the Judicial Discipline Tribunal will be responsible, while state and Mexico City tribunals will oversee their respective entities.
The new laws also require public servants in the judiciary to adhere to principles of austerity, discipline, legal compliance, objectivity, professionalism, honesty, loyalty, impartiality, integrity, accountability, efficiency, and resource rationality in their duties.
These substantial reforms aim to enhance transparency, efficiency, and public trust in the Mexican judiciary, aligning with the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its democratic institutions.
