Introduction to Hugo Aguilar and His Election
Hugo Aguilar, an Oaxaca-born lawyer and advocate for indigenous peoples’ rights, will become the new president of Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) starting September 1, 2025. He secured the highest number of votes (5.3%) in recent popular elections to renew SCJN ministers, making him the first president elected by suffrage in a historic shift for selecting judges in Mexico.
Term Duration and Rotation of Presidency
According to the new judicial legislation:
- The presidency term in the SCJN will last for two years.
- Every two years, the presidency will rotate to the next most-voted minister.
- The position of SCJN minister will now last 12 years, down from the previous 15.
This means Hugo Aguilar will preside over the SCJN from September 2025 to September 2027. Afterward, another tribunal member (the second-highest vote recipient in the election) will assume the presidency.
Profile: Hugo Aguilar
The upcoming SCJN will consist of nine members (four men and five women) instead of the current eleven. This reduction is part of the judicial reform aiming for a more representative, austere, and less bureaucratic court.
Following his victory, Aguilar stated he will not wear the traditional black robe but instead opt for indigenous ceremonial attire, symbolizing his vision of a “pluricultural, people-centered, and community-focused justice” for the Judicial Power.
Beyond his legal advisor role for the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) in the 1990s and his work at the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI), Aguilar has been pivotal in the recent constitutional reform recognizing indigenous and afro-Mexican peoples’ rights.
Despite lacking judicial experience or partisan militancy, Aguilar embodies a significant transformation in Mexican justice. His appointment ushers in an unprecedented era for the SCJN, where citizens directly participate in electing their ministers and strives to rectify the historical exclusion of indigenous peoples from high-level power positions.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Hugo Aguilar? An Oaxaca-born lawyer and advocate for indigenous peoples’ rights.
- What is his new role? President of Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) for a two-year term starting September 1, 2025.
- Why is his election significant? Aguilar is the first SCJN president elected by suffrage, marking a historic shift in selecting judges in Mexico.
- How long will his term last? Two years, after which the presidency will rotate to the next most-voted minister.
- What changes will Aguilar bring to the SCJN? He aims for a “pluricultural, people-centered, and community-focused justice” and seeks to rectify the historical exclusion of indigenous peoples from high-level power positions.
