Background on the Judicial Power Renewal Election
The first extraordinary election for renewing the Judicial Power included two seats from the Supreme Court and 15 magistrates’ positions across five regional chambers of the Federal Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF).
The Plenum of the Supreme Court’s Situation
Prior to September 1, the Plenum of the Supreme Court, consisting of seven seats, functioned with the minimum number of magistrates (four) required to hold sessions. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador refrained from nominating replacements for José Luis Vargas and Indalfer Infante, whose terms ended on October 31, 2023.
Constitutional Reform and Magistrate Renewal
The presidential election’s legitimacy was never at risk, despite Reyes Rodríguez Mondragón’s term ending on October 31, 2024. The constitutional reform’s transitional clauses for judicial renewal stipulated that functioning superior court magistrates would remain in their positions until 2027, and vacancies would be filled by candidates elected during the June extraordinary election.
Election Results and Magistrate Appointments
Fifteen candidates vied for the two available seats. Claudia Valle Aguilasocho, an ex-specialized chamber magistrate and the sole candidate endorsed by the evaluation committees of all three powers, was elected with 4.2 million votes, making her the top vote-getter among six women candidates.
Gilberto de Guzmán Bátiz García, among the nine candidates, won with 4.7 million votes.
Magistrate Retirements and New Disputes
Otálora Malassis, who has served as an electoral magistrate for nine years and accumulated four decades of professional experience, decided to retire. Her departure will leave the Supreme Court incomplete once more, as it did before.
Roselia Bustillo Marín, a magistrate elected in the Xalapa regional chamber of TEPJF, claims the position Otálora Malassis is vacating, citing her victory with 14.3% of the votes in her constituency.
María del Rocío Balderas Fernández, the second-highest vote-getter among Supperior Court aspirants, served as the Director of Legal Affairs in the Secretariat of Governance when Adán Augusto López Hernández was in charge.
Constitutional Mechanisms and Procedures
Article 99 of the Constitution outlines magistrates’ powers, including handling resignations, absences, and leaves of Supperior Court members. The Supperior Court will manage these matters according to Article 98’s terms.
Otálora Malassis notified the Senate of her retirement, adhering to her nine-year appointment granted by the upper chamber.
Article 98’s constitutional mechanism stipulates that if a magistrate position is vacant due to death or definitive separation, the federal executive will submit a new nomination for Senate approval.
Secondary Effects: Post-Disaster Recovery Efforts in Puebla
Reconstruction Progress:
Twelve days after the heavy rains affected Husteca and Puebla’s Sierra Norte, efforts to address the impacted families have been coordinated by Leticia Ramírez Amaya. Governor Alejandro Armenta will focus on rebuilding infrastructure and housing, as well as strengthening the forecasting and alert system to prevent future risks.
- Recover 134.8 kilometers of damaged communication routes
- Remove 40,442 cubic meters of mud
- Clear 24,521 linear meters of avenues and streets
- Remove 24.5 kilometers of damaged asphalt
- Identify and address 11 affected bridges in nine municipalities
