In the electoral process of June 1, 2025, citizens will elect nine new ministers, completely renewing the SCJN.
Article 163 of the Organic Law of the Judiciary of the Federation details that upon retirement, the ministers will be entitled to a life pension equivalent to 100% of their monthly income during the first two years, and 80% for life. Additionally, the benefit extends to family members in case of the death of the minister in office or retired.
Among the ministers who have opted to resign are Ana Margarita Ríos Farjat, Juan Luis González Alcántara Carrancá, Javier Laynez Potisek, Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortiz Mena, Alberto Pérez Dayán, Jorge Mario Pardo Rebolledo, and the president Norma Piña Hernández. Meanwhile, ministers Yasmín Esquivel Mossa, Loretta Ortiz, and Lenia Batres Guadarrama will remain in their position for now.
Minor children and spouses can receive 50% of the pension, although the benefit is annulled for spouses in the event of remarriage or cohabitation, and for children upon reaching adulthood.
When ministers retire without having completed 15 years in office, they are also entitled to proportional remuneration for the time served.
Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortiz Mena was the first minister to submit his resignation letter to the Senate of the Republic, as part of the transitional deadlines given by the judicial reform. Other ministers have also announced their early resignation.
According to an information request, the Judiciary of the Federation allocates more than 60 million pesos to cover the pensions of 32 retired ministers from the SCJN. Currently, there are 19 retired ministers in Mexico receiving this life pension.
In a recent reform to the Judiciary, it is established that active ministers must resign this year to retain their pension, even if their departure occurs in 2025. Ministers who do not participate in the extraordinary election of 2025 would lose the right to the "retirement benefit" unless they submit their resignation before November 2024.
In a historic event, seven ministers of the SCJN have announced their resignation before the popular election of judges and magistrates scheduled for June 2025. In the words of Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortiz: “I am presented with two options: submit to a popular election process or submit my resignation.”
