New Mexico’s Open Government Foundation Files Lawsuits Demanding Transparency in College Athlete Revenue-Sharing Contracts

In June 2021, the discussion around whether college athletes’ name, image, and likeness (NIL) contracts should be shielded from public disclosure took center stage. This conversation arose during a pivotal time as the NCAA accepted that athletes could earn endorsement income. At that moment, the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) was tasked with creating model legislation for states to use regarding NIL agreements, raising a critical legal question about the transparency of such contracts. The NCAA mandated that universities collect athletes’ NIL contracts to monitor compliance with existing regulations prohibiting pay-for-play arrangements. This requirement sparked considerable … Read more

Mexico’s President Sheinbaum Takes Legal Action Against El Chapo’s Lawyer Over Defamation Claims

Mexico City, Mexico — President Claudia Sheinbaum has initiated a defamation lawsuit against Jeffrey Lichtman, a New York attorney known for representing notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and his family. The lawsuit arises from statements Lichtman made outside a federal courthouse in Chicago, where he claimed that clients from the Sinaloa Cartel could provide evidence of political corruption in Mexico, implicating Sheinbaum and her Morena party. Lichtman spoke to reporters following a court hearing for Ovidio Guzmán López, Guzmán’s son, who recently pleaded guilty to charges including international drug trafficking and murder. During … Read more

Supreme Court Delivers Major Ruling, Dismissing Mexico’s Case Against U.S. Gun Manufacturers

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has decisively dismissed a lawsuit from the Mexican government aimed at holding American gun manufacturers accountable for violence fueled by firearms trafficking across the border. The ruling, which came down unanimously, underscores the complexities of cross-border legal cases regarding gun distribution and responsibility. The lawsuit had argued that U.S. gunmakers contributed to the rampant drug-related violence in Mexico by failing to implement adequate control measures to prevent illegal exports of their products. Mexico claimed these manufacturers disregarded their responsibilities, effectively enabling criminal organizations to acquire weapons easily, which has … Read more

Indigenous Advocate Hugo Aguilar Poised for Historic Role as Mexico’s Chief Justice in Groundbreaking Election

MEXICO CITY — Indigenous lawyer Hugo Aguilar is poised to become Mexico’s next chief justice following a historic judicial election this past Sunday. For the first time, voters elected the entire judiciary through direct ballot as part of a significant reform initiated by the governing Morena party. Almost all votes for the Supreme Court have been tallied, revealing that Aguilar leads the race for the top position. President Claudia Sheinbaum hailed the elections as a success, despite a disappointing voter turnout of about 13%. Electoral officials reported that Aguilar, a member of the Mixtec indigenous … Read more