Headline:
Judicial Committee Halts Electoral Process Following Federal Judge’s Order
Subhead:
Mexico City, 07/01/2025 – The Evaluation Committee of the Federal Judiciary (PJF) has temporarily halted the ongoing extraordinary electoral process for the selection of judges, magistrates, and ministers, after a federal judge ordered the suspension. The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) received the committee’s agreement, which also affects the committees of the executive and legislative branches.
Article:
The Federal Judicial Council’s Evaluation Committee (PJF) has temporarily suspended the extraordinary electoral process for the selection of judges, magistrates, and ministers by popular vote, scheduled for June 2025. This decision comes following an order issued by a federal judge in Michoacán. The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) received the Committee’s agreement, which also instructs the committees of the executive and legislative branches to halt their activities.
The suspension was granted in response to the following norms:
"norms that might result in the imposition of legislation, as established in the eighth transitional paragraph of the decree amending, adding, and repealing various provisions of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States regarding the reform of the Judicial Power, specifically the implementation of laws that do not apply to federal judges."
What Does the PJF Communiqué Say?
In its December 20, 2024, agreement, particularly in sections 1.3 and 1.4, the PJF determined:
1.3. Authorities are bound to comply with the precautionary measures. Consequently, as per the plaintiff’s request and the provisions of Article 158 of the Amparo Law, the members of the Evaluation Committees of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Powers are bound to comply with the precautionary measures ordered in this suspension proceeding.
The federal judge gave the three committees 48 hours to comply with the precautionary measures, warning that non-compliance may result in the initiation of criminal investigations against the responsible authorities and a fine of 1,000 Units of Measurement and Actualization (UMA), equivalent to approximately 107,570 MXN ($5,293 USD).
In response to this mandate, the PJF Evaluation Committee decided to suspend its activities until the precautionary measures are lifted or modified.
María Emilia Molina, a Circuit Magistrate, explained that all three committees (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) are bound to comply with the suspension order to avoid favoring certain participants in the electoral process.
The Committee’s agreement, signed by Magistrates Emma Meza Fonseca and Hortencia María Emilia Molina de la Puente, and doctors Luis Enrique Trejo and Mónica González Contró, confirms the halt of the electoral process until further notice.
