A group of around 80 judges and magistrates, along with judiciary workers, staged a protest outside the Senate against the judicial reform that would force them to participate in an electoral process or leave their positions. María Elena Molina, a magistrate, expressed her honor in having served and dignifiedly declined to participate in the electoral process.
Lilia Mónica López Benítez, the Federal Judiciary Councilor, recalled Mexico's struggles for democracy, rights, and freedoms. With a firm voice, she urged judges who would remain in their positions to defend justice and keep the flame of independence alive.
Alongside Molina and López Benítez was Juana Fuentes, national director of the National Association of Circuit Magistrates and District Judges of the Federal Judiciary. In a symbolic act, the judges and magistrates linked arms, announced their names, positions, and years of service, showcasing the temporal diversity of their careers in serving Mexico.
With powerful messages such as "I served with honesty, I decline for dignity," the protesters expressed their rejection of the judicial reform. Amid tears, hugs, and chants, they voiced their disagreement with the new system that jeopardized their careers in the judiciary. Some mentioned having dedicated decades to this work and rejected the idea of being part of a process they deemed dishonorable.
In a gesture of unity and resistance, the judges, despite the consequences, remained resolute in their decision not to participate in the popular election of judges scheduled for 2025. The protest outside the Senate served as a show of solidarity and determination from those who chose not to yield to a reform they considered a threat to judicial independence.
