“Uncertainty” after approval of judicial reform: González Pimentel

Mexico City. The leader of the Union of Workers of the Judicial Branch of the Federation (STPJF), Jesús Gilberto González Pimentel, said, in a personal capacity, that the approval of the reform leaves a certain “unease and uncertainty” about whether it is the best measure to change the system of appointment of justice administrators. “This circumstance of electing ministers, judges and magistrates by popular vote can be dangerous. The entire procedure must be followed with great interest, but there are several points that leave doubts.”

He also said that there are concerns about the Judicial Disciplinary Court, which according to the reform will operate in plenary and in committees. The plenary will be the substantiating authority in the terms established by law and will resolve in the second instance the matters within its jurisdiction.

In an interview with La Jornada, he regretted that the amendment would eliminate the judicial career. “The reform would have impacted first on prosecutors and police. They are the first contact that citizens have with the administration of justice, not with the delivery of justice” and for the moment he reserved the right to challenge it.

“I proposed to the legislators that at least 50 percent of the positions up for election should be guaranteed to be career judicial personnel, because they are the ones who are most involved and have the best preparation in each of the subjects, however the legislature has already decided. They have great legitimacy because of the number of votes they obtained.”

Likewise, González Pimentel asked President Andrés Manuel López Obrador not to generalize that all PJF workers are stooges. “With all due respect to the presidential office, my colleagues also deserve respect for human dignity, as public servants, it is not acceptable.”

“All the staff of the Judiciary are highly qualified, with many years of study, not only in their bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctorates or diplomas, but they have also had to complete each of the categories as part of their judicial career. Many aspire to become judges or magistrates through this merit system.”

The union leader added that as a workers’ representative he had to preserve the workers’ rights won through many years of struggle, “which are precisely the benefits, the emoluments, everything that comes with representing workers. There are excessive work days of more than 20 hours that have not been contemplated. There are judges and magistrates who entered the profession as meritors and have dedicated and consecrated their lives to the administration of justice,” he reiterated.