One question asked frequently by Mexicans: “Why, if Mexico’s police forces are being purged ruthlessly for rogue elements, are the nation’s judges not being subjected to the same treatment?”
The reason: the judges themselves have blocked the process.
In fact, Jalisco’s judges have even gone to Mexico’s Supreme Court to get a ruling in their favor preventing them from having to take the rigorous, federally-mandated “confidence” or “trustworthiness” tests.
According to Jalisco Supreme Court President Luis Carlos Vega Pámanes, the move is logical given the concept of separation of powers. The judges, he said, do not consider it correct that the executive branch of government should be responsible for carrying out the exams and thus be seen to be interfering in the judicial branch in any way.
Vega Pámanes said he doesn’t rule out judges having to take the strict tests in the future, but stressed they would have to be regulated internally.
Jalisco’s judges are submitted to congressional evaluations every seven years, Vega Pámanes noted.