Judicial Reform / Armed Forces Nominations

Judicial Reform. Minister of the Interior Luisa María Alcalde denied claims that the Executive Branch seeks to control the Judicial power through its reform. She explained that the current process allows the president to propose candidates for the Supreme Court to the Senate, which then selects one by a two-thirds majority. If rejected, the president can present another list or appoint a candidate directly after a second rejection.

Alcalde reiterated that many judges, magistrates, and ministers have multiple relatives working within the Judicial Branch, noting that, on average, each judge has over 4.5 relatives employed within the system.

She also pointed out that the Judicial Council dismissed 86% of the 38,000 complaints filed between 2004 and 2023 against officials in the Judicial branch while sanctioning 472 judges. Additionally, he criticized that members of the Supreme Court earn more than the president.

Minister of Security, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, presented several cases where judges granted freedom to criminals on weekends, referred to as "sabadazos," as examples of the impunity and corruption within the Judicial Branch. These cases included a judge who altered the precautionary measures for a former associate of Genaro García Luna, a suspected member of the Zetas cartel, a suspected member of the CJNG, and the brother of El Mencho, among others.

Among the most relevant cases presented by Rodríguez was the case of Jorge Antonio Sánchez Ortega, a former Center of Investigation and National Security (CISEN) agent, where an arrest warrant for his alleged involvement in the murder of Luis Donaldo Colosio has not been executed. Rodríguez also referred to Ismael Vallarta, who has spent 18 years in prison for kidnapping without receiving a sentence. Additionally, she discussed how judges favored former Attorney General Jesús Murillo Karam in the case of the forced disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students. Other cases involved favorable rulings for former Puebla Governor Mario Marín and former PEMEX Director Emilio Lozoya.

She further stated that more than 24,000 people have been involved in criminal trials for 10 to 15 years without receiving a sentence, 1,326 have been waiting between five and 10 years, and 232 have been waiting for more than 20 years for a verdict.

Sheinbaum’s Nominations for the Armed Forces. López Obrador endorsed the appointments made by president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum to lead the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA) and the Ministry of the Navy (SEMAR). He praised Sheinbaum's choices, noting that Ricardo Trevilla and Raymundo Morales were appointed to lead these key departments, respectively. López Obrador expressed confidence in Sheinbaum's decisions, highlighting his own positive experiences with Trevilla and Morales due to their roles and work in security matters.

Violence in Sinaloa. Following the confirmation of one death during a shooting in Culiacan, Sinaloa, on Monday, López Obrador said that authorities are closely monitoring the area and working to prevent further clashes between criminal gangs. He noted that no additional confrontations were reported the previous afternoon. López Obrador urged everyone to act responsibly, emphasizing that security has been reinforced with the National Guard and the Army. He also mentioned that the recent violence in Culiacan might be related to the case of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.