Over 18,000 sign up for Supreme Court seats and federal judgeships in Mexico
Over 18,000 people have registered online for Supreme Court seats and federal judgeships in Mexico, with a random drawing deciding the final candidates.
Over 18,000 people have registered online to run for Supreme Court seats and federal judgeships in Mexico’s contentious new selection process, officials said Monday. But a random drawing in the end will determine who gets on the ballot.
The ruling party pushed through a constitutional reform in September to make all federal judges stand for election, replacing the system where court employees and lawyers mainly move up through the ranks.
Current court employees and their supporters have staged dozens of demonstrations against the reforms, calling them part of a ruling-party campaign to weaken checks and balances and eliminate independent regulatory and oversight bodies.
Now, candidates for Supreme Court seats and federal judgeships need only a law degree, a grade point average of 3.2, “five years of professional experience” and five letters of recommendation from neighbors or friends. That, and some luck in the final drawing.
Officials rejected criticism that has called the process rushed or amateurish for the often highly technical posts that can hear cases including intellectual property, organized crime and Constitutional law.
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