World News @lemmy.ml NightOwl @lemmy.ca 2mo ago

Mexico will amend its constitution this weekend to require all judges to be elected

apnews.com Mexico will amend its constitution this weekend to require all judges to be elected

Mexico is poised to amend its constitution this weekend to require all judges to be elected as part of a judicial overhaul championed by the outgoing president but slammed by critics as a blow to the country’s rule of law.

World News @lemmy.world MicroWave @lemmy.world 2mo ago

apnews.com /article/president-andres-manuel-lopez-obrador-judicial-overhaul-democracy-protests-7c13b20ef398264378dcdf1971a9a5d2

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47 comments

The idea that judges shouldn't be elected is deeply rooted in the reactionary ideology of an aristocracy that believed the masses shouldn't be trusted with any decisions that actually matter and should be regarded with suspicion instead of trusted with decisions.
- Judges shouldnt be elected for the same reasons surgeons shouldnt be elected.
  
  This logic can be applied to lawmakers too.
  
  What's the difference?
  
  I'm sure as hell I'd want to choose between surgeons. For example, I'd easily choose the one not trafficking organs.
- Yeah but have you seen what the masses choose sometimes?
This is probably the worst option. Judges should be professional and not populists pandering to the public.
- What? Democratically appointed judges? That’s amazing , wonder why the US hasn’t thought of this? Ohh right that’s because we give way too much power to the one in office. This is great for Mexico now the US needs to do this.
  
  Several states have elected Supreme Court Justices. Across the states, it has been seen that rulings are generally more inconsistent.
  
  That said, Mexico has civil law instead of common law where legal precedent carries a lot less value.
- Literally reactionary.
  
  This ideology is what lead to the US having a fascist Court.
- So they should only pander to the political class? That seems great...
Interesting. If judges are going to be political regardless, I don't see another option for democracies.
- Strong and diverse press, strong and enforced rules against politically motivated decisions. A judge should know that, if they don't strictly follow the law, they'll lose their job. This won't make the thing perfect, but far better than officially political judges.
- There is no such thing as an apolitical judge. The judges you see as apolitical are just centrists supporting the status quo, but that is not actually an apolitical frame of action.
The very same reaction to the amend shows how urgent it is to to change the judicial system. I'm glad this was done and I can't wait to vote corrupt judges out of office.

47 comments