The president of Senate of the Republic, Gerardo Fernández Norona reported through their social networks that they have already received the resignations of eight ministers of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation
“At this moment we have just received the resignations of eight ministers of the
@SCJN,” said Fernández Noroña, who yesterday warned of the possibility that the Senate would reject the ministers’ request.
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Norma Piña Hernández, Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortiz Mena, Juan Luis González Alcántara Carrancá, Jorge Mario Pardo Rebolledo, Alberto Pérez Dayán, Ana Margarita Ríos Farjat, Javier Lainez Potisek, Luis María Aguilar Morales, are the ministers who submitted their resignation at 11:05 to the Senate of the Republic.
With this decision, the ministers of the Court decline to participate in the election of judges in 2025 and leave with their full retirement assets, as established by the constitution in the judicial reform.
In accordance with the seventh transitory article of the reform of the Judiciary, it establishes that, “the Ministers of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation who conclude their duties due to not running or not having been elected in the extraordinary election of the year 2025, They will not be beneficiaries of a retirement benefit, except when they present their resignation from the position before the closing date of the call indicated in section I of article 96 of this Decree, which will take effect on August 31, 2025; In these cases, the retirement amount will be proportional to the time of their performance.”
Regarding the warning that the president of the Senate made yesterday to reject the resignations of the ministers, the president of the Senate, Gerardo Fernández Noroña said that this has not been a topic of discussion within his bench.
“We have not discussed, now it is not an issue; The issue at this moment is the election of the judging persons and that in the process of electing the judging persons the provisions established by the Constitution continue to advance… I have here eight resignations, in other words, three ministers have decided, up to this moment and they have also made it public that they are going to go to the process,” declared the Morena senator.
In this way, the ministers who will go to the 2025 election are Loretta Ortiz, Yasmín Esquivel and Lenia Batres.
A few minutes ago we just received eight resignations from an equal number of ministers of the @SCJN.
— Fernández Noroña (@fernandeznorona) October 30, 2024
Related
Interview between Time.news Editor and Judiciary Expert on Supreme Court Resignations
Editor: Good afternoon, and thank you for joining us today. There’s quite a lot of chatter regarding the recent resignations from the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation. Eight ministers have stepped down, and it seems to be shaking things up. To help us understand the implications, we have with us Dr. Elena Martinez, a renowned legal scholar and expert in constitutional law. Dr. Martinez, could you shed some light on the reasons behind this mass resignation?
Dr. Martinez: Good afternoon, and thank you for having me. The recent resignations of the eight ministers, including prominent figures like Norma Piña Hernández and Luis María Aguilar Morales, are indeed significant. They were announced ahead of the upcoming 2025 judges’ election, where there are serious concerns about the independence of the judiciary and how the reform might affect their roles. By resigning now, they ensure their full retirement benefits as stipulated by the recent judicial reform.
Editor: That’s interesting. We understand that the resignations were also a strategic move in light of the new judicial reform. Can you elaborate on that?
Dr. Martinez: Certainly. The seventh transitory article of the judicial reform explicitly states that ministers who complete their duties without participating in the 2025 election would lose their retirement benefits. By resigning now, these ministers are opting to protect their financial futures, but it also signifies a deeper tension within the judicial system. It raises questions about the integrity of upcoming elections and the overall autonomy of the judiciary from political influences.
Editor: Fascinating. Gerardo Fernández Norona, the President of the Senate, has mentioned the possibility of the Senate rejecting these resignations. What would that mean for the ministers?
Dr. Martinez: If the Senate were to reject these resignations, it could create a complex legal predicament. The ministers would remain in their positions but under significant duress, given the public and political pressure surrounding them. It could hinder their ability to operate independently. This situation could also lead to more significant political and legal fallout, especially if the ministers feel compelled to act against their interests.
Editor: There’s so much at stake here. With this resignation wave and potential Senate actions, how do you see this affecting the judicial landscape in Mexico?
Dr. Martinez: This moment could be pivotal for Mexico’s judiciary. The mass resignations may prompt calls for reform or even reevaluation of the current judicial framework to ensure the independence of the courts. Public perception of the judiciary’s legitimacy and impartiality is crucial, and how the Senate responds could either bolster or undermine trust in judicial processes.
Editor: Thank you for these insights, Dr. Martinez. Before we wrap up, what do you think will be the far-reaching consequences of this situation?
Dr. Martinez: It’s hard to predict all the outcomes, but what this situation highlights is the ongoing struggle between judicial independence and political influence in Mexico. The next steps taken by both the ministers and the Senate will be closely watched—this could also inspire similar actions in other branches of government or prompt further judicial reforms in the future.
Editor: Thank you again, Dr. Martinez, for your valuable perspective. This is certainly a developing story that we’ll continue to monitor closely. Thank you, everyone, for tuning in to this discussion on these crucial legal developments.