Mexico's Chamber of Deputies approved a judicial reform on Thursday that postpones the election of judges and magistrates to June 2028 [1].
The move shifts the timeline for judicial appointments and alters the tenure of high-level electoral officials. By delaying the vote, the government aims to prevent the judicial election from coinciding with the 2024 midterm elections and to align it with the mandate revocation process for President Claudia Sheinbaum [2], [3].
The reform passed with 324 votes in favor [4]. The legislation moves the previously scheduled 2027 judicial elections to June 2028 [1].
Beyond the timing of the general judicial vote, the reform specifically impacts the Tribunal Electoral del Poder Judicial Federal (TEPJF). The legislation allows magistrates of the TEPJF to be re-elected for an additional six-year term, which extends their mandate until 2034 [5], [6].
Lawmakers from the Morena party and its allies drove the approval in Mexico City [1], [4]. The majority said these changes are necessary to provide greater stability to the national electoral system [2], [3].
The TEPJF is the final authority on electoral disputes in Mexico. Extending the terms of its magistrates ensures continuity in the body that validates election results and resolves legal challenges to candidate eligibility, a critical function during high-stakes political transitions.
“Mexico's Chamber of Deputies approved a judicial reform that postpones the election of judges and magistrates to June 2028.”
This reform centralizes control over the judicial timeline and ensures that the electoral tribunal remains staffed by current magistrates through the next several election cycles. By decoupling the judicial vote from midterms and aligning it with the president's revocation process, the Morena-led government reduces the risk of simultaneous political shocks while maintaining a known judicial presence in the TEPJF until 2034.
