Eight of the eleven justices on Mexico's Supreme Court have announced their resignation, refusing to partake in the upcoming court election scheduled for June, as confirmed by a court statement on Wednesday. This surprising move includes the resignation of the court's president, Norma Pina, alongside justices Luis Maria Aguilar, Jorge Mario Pardo, Alfredo Gutierrez, Alberto Perez, Javier Laynez, Juan Luis Gonzalez, and Margarita Rios.
Most of the resignations will become effective on August 31, 2025, with Aguilar stepping down earlier on November 30. These resignations are triggered by a recent constitutional reform which mandates that all judges be elected through popular vote. This reform requires judges choosing not to participate in the election to resign ahead of time to retain their pensions, or otherwise risk losing them, a clause that has sparked dissatisfaction among the judiciary.
This wave of resignations further strains the already tense relationship between Mexico's Supreme Court and the country's ruling political coalition, posing a heightened risk of a constitutional crisis. This comes as Congress and the presidency continue to be at odds with the judiciary regarding this controversial reform. Justice Gutierrez, in his resignation letter dated Tuesday, emphasized that his resignation should not be seen as an acknowledgment of the reform's legitimacy.
Similarly, in her statement to the Senate on Wednesday, Rios clarified that her resignation should not be interpreted as an endorsement of a reform framework that remains contentious. This development means that the 11-member Supreme Court will be reduced to nine members as per the reform, while three current justices have expressed their support for the new measures.