Association of female judges expresses concern over reform of the PJF

Mexico City. The International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) expressed its concern on Monday about the reform of the Federal Judiciary (FJ), stating that removing judges before the end of their term “constitutes a significant threat to judicial independence.”

Among the proposals of the presidential initiative for constitutional reform of the PJF, which the Chamber of Deputies plans to discuss in August, is to submit to a popular vote the more than 1,600 positions of judges, magistrates and ministers of the country, which has been one of the most controversial points.

The IAWJ issued a brief “Statement on Judicial Independence and Current Events in Mexico” on its official social media accounts, also translated into English and French.

“Judicial officials should only be removed for just cause, previously established by law, with sufficient procedural protections, including the right to appeal and judicial review. Any attempt to remove sitting judges before the end of their terms constitutes a significant threat to judicial independence,” it said.

She also stressed that judicial independence is fundamental to the rule of law and democracy, and that the full and equal participation of women at all levels of the judiciary is vital to maintaining judicial integrity.

“The IAWJ expresses its commitment to the importance of judicial independence, the rule of law and minority rights,” he said.

He also fully supported his affiliate association in this country, Mexico Chapter – IAWJ (MC-IAWJ), “in its continuing effort to promote and strengthen these values.”