Ciudad Juárez, Mexico — A former attorney for Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán has taken a seat as a judge in Ciudad Juárez following Mexico’s inaugural judicial elections. Silvia Delgado, 51, who previously defended the infamous drug lord, emerged as a notable figure in the election results released Tuesday.
Delgado’s past role on Guzmán’s defense team — particularly during his time in Ciudad Juárez prior to his extradition to the United States in 2017 — has generated substantial controversy. Nonetheless, she garnered one of the highest vote tallies among the five women elected to serve as judges in the northern state of Chihuahua. She will join five male judges, marking a new phase in the state’s judiciary.
Her candidacy raised eyebrows, as approximately 20 individuals, including Delgado, were singled out by the human rights group Defensorxs for potential “high-risk” affiliations with organized crime, corruption, or misconduct of a sexual nature. Delgado stood firm in her defense of her work, arguing for the fundamental right to legal representation: “Every person has the right to counsel,” she asserted to her constituents, highlighting her legal expertise.
This election is a landmark event for Mexico, establishing it as the only nation globally where all judges and magistrates are elected by popular vote. On June 1, voters were tasked with selecting 881 federal judges, which included the election of nine Supreme Court justices, alongside numerous local magistrates and judges. An additional round of judicial elections is slated for 2027 when the remainder of the judiciary will be voted on.
However, the electoral reform has faced significant backlash. Critics argue that this initiative might undermine judicial independence and make judges more susceptible to influence from organized crime syndicates. These fears are amplifying in a country where powerful drug cartels, particularly the Sinaloa cartel co-founded by Guzmán, maintain a significant impact on public institutions and governance.
As the implications of these elections unfold, the spotlight remains on the judiciary’s evolving landscape in Mexico, with the potential for increased accountability and democratic participation clouded by the specter of corruption and crime.
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