The election will determine Mexico's entire judiciary through direct voting, a significant change affecting the country's justice system's independence and integrity.
**Ex-El Chapo Lawyer Campaigns for Judicial Role Amid Controversy**
**Ex-El Chapo Lawyer Campaigns for Judicial Role Amid Controversy**
A former attorney for the notorious drug lord El Chapo, Silvia Delgado, is running for a judiciary position in Mexico, stirring debate over her controversial past.
Silvia Delgado, previously the defense attorney for infamous drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán, has entered politics, campaigning to become a penal judge. As she distributes campaign leaflets in Ciudad Juárez, she is well aware of the scrutiny surrounding her past. Despite her association with Guzmán, who currently serves a life sentence in the US, Delgado maintains that her legal career should not be tarnished by accusations stemming from her defense of a criminal.
Critics argue that Delgado's prior involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel disqualifies her from judicial candidacy, questioning her impartiality and integrity. However, she defends herself by asserting that her work as an attorney is grounded in the principle of advocating for clients' rights. She emphasizes her professional approach and challenges those who accuse her of potential conflicts of interest, insisting her legal compensation was standard and in line with her duties.
Delgado is part of a larger electoral context, where over 7,500 judicial positions nationwide are open for selection in an election that marks the first direct vote for judges in Mexico. Legal experts and organizations, such as Defensorxs, flag her as a "high risk candidate," amid a wider concern that the judiciary will become increasingly politicized under this new system. Critics, including Defensorxs director Miguel Alfonso Meza, express that this new method of selecting judges could destabilize the judiciary's role as an independent body, leading to corruption and loyalty to political actors instead of the rule of law.
Meanwhile, legal reform advocates like Olivia Aguirre Bonilla, another candidate from Ciudad Juárez, welcome the opportunity to revitalize a tainted judiciary. With a focus on human rights and systemic change, Aguirre Bonilla believes that electing judges could democratize a traditionally elitist judicial structure.
As public opinion continues to shift, with some viewing the elections as a chance for reform while others remain skeptical of potential consequences, all eyes are on the upcoming election. Voter turnout and attention to the selected candidates will ultimately indicate the public's support for this unprecedented judicial transformation in Mexico.
Critics argue that Delgado's prior involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel disqualifies her from judicial candidacy, questioning her impartiality and integrity. However, she defends herself by asserting that her work as an attorney is grounded in the principle of advocating for clients' rights. She emphasizes her professional approach and challenges those who accuse her of potential conflicts of interest, insisting her legal compensation was standard and in line with her duties.
Delgado is part of a larger electoral context, where over 7,500 judicial positions nationwide are open for selection in an election that marks the first direct vote for judges in Mexico. Legal experts and organizations, such as Defensorxs, flag her as a "high risk candidate," amid a wider concern that the judiciary will become increasingly politicized under this new system. Critics, including Defensorxs director Miguel Alfonso Meza, express that this new method of selecting judges could destabilize the judiciary's role as an independent body, leading to corruption and loyalty to political actors instead of the rule of law.
Meanwhile, legal reform advocates like Olivia Aguirre Bonilla, another candidate from Ciudad Juárez, welcome the opportunity to revitalize a tainted judiciary. With a focus on human rights and systemic change, Aguirre Bonilla believes that electing judges could democratize a traditionally elitist judicial structure.
As public opinion continues to shift, with some viewing the elections as a chance for reform while others remain skeptical of potential consequences, all eyes are on the upcoming election. Voter turnout and attention to the selected candidates will ultimately indicate the public's support for this unprecedented judicial transformation in Mexico.
