Extension of court president's term unlawful: Supreme Court of Mexico

Extension of court president's term unlawful: Supreme Court of Mexico

Upholding the reform decree meant Arturo Zaldívar Lelo de Larrea would remain president until 2024

The National Supreme Court of Justice (Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación) has declared the two-year extension of court president and federal council members' term as unconstitutional.

The highest court in Mexico held that the term extension violated the Mexican Constitution, which established the procedures for appointing the court's president and council members and set forth the term limits for these judiciary members. It also provides constitutional supremacy principles and calls for judicial autonomy and independence.

Pursuant to the court's ruling, the judicial officials' terms must end on the date determined upon their appointment. Consequently, the current Supreme Court President Arturo Zaldívar Lelo de Larrea would complete his four-year term on December 31, 2022. But if the court had upheld the reform decree, Zaldívar would have remained president until 2024.

Mexico's Senate had voted to extend the president's term in April, seeking to combat nepotism and corruption. The Senate passed the reform decree in an 80 to 25 vote.

However, the National Action Party (PAN) leaders had cautioned that permitting Congress to extend a judicial term could create a precedent to extend the president's term. Some political leaders called on Zaldívar to declare the reform decree that would extend his term, unconstitutional.

Zaldívar agreed and joined the court's decision.