Mexico - October 2023

On 18 October, the Mexican Congress approved a modification to Article 224 of the Organic Law of the Federal Judicial Power (PJF) concerning trust funds. The revision significantly reduces the budget available to the PJF, eliminating 13 of 14 trust funds and banning the creation of new ones. The reform was approved by the Senate on 24 October, and President López Obrador enacted it on 28 October.  

This action impacts Mexico’s Supreme Court, the Federal Judicial Oversight Body, and the Federal Electoral Tribunal, and is a part of President López Obrador's wider campaign against corruption and government overspending. The resources from the dissolved trust funds are expected to be redirected to the Federal Treasury, supporting social programs pursuant to the National Development Plan. However, the budget cuts have ignited debate and triggered protests due to concerns that they may compromise the independence of the judiciary and impact the rights of judicial employees. Despite President López Obrador's assurances that lower-ranking court workers will not be impacted by these changes, members of the judiciary and critics consider such workers will be affected the most. Several protests by employees of the PJF resulted in the temporary suspension of some judicial work and services. At the same time, criticism about the potential weakening of the judiciary, through budget cuts, persists. Critics argue that the reform could disrupt the balance of power, undermining the judiciary's ability to act as a check on executive power. 

Sources: Cámara de Diputados, El País (1), Infobae, Senado de la República, El País (2), Stanford Law School, Expansión Politica