In a historic first for Mexico, Silvia Delgado, who previously defended notorious drug lord El Chapo, has been elected as a local criminal judge. Despite accusations of ties to organized crime, Delgado maintains her legal defense was part of her professional responsibilities.
Lawyer Once Defending El Chapo Secures Judge Position in First-Ever Judicial Elections in Mexico
Lawyer Once Defending El Chapo Secures Judge Position in First-Ever Judicial Elections in Mexico
Silvia Delgado, former lawyer for drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, has been elected as a local criminal judge in Ciudad Juárez, amidst controversy over her candidacy.
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A former defense attorney for Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the notorious drug lord currently serving a life sentence in the U.S., has achieved a significant milestone in Mexico's judicial landscape. Silvia Delgado has been elected as a local criminal judge in Ciudad Juárez during the country's inaugural judicial election. The results, announced on Tuesday, confirmed her victory amidst a highly contentious election process.
Delgado's candidacy encountered scrutiny, with a leading transparency organization claiming that she was among several candidates with purported connections to organized crime. Delgado dismissed these allegations, asserting her role was strictly professional, advocating for the legal rights of her client, El Chapo, before his extradition in 2017.
In a prior interview with BBC, she emphasized that all defendants, including high-profile criminals like El Chapo, are entitled to legal representation, rejecting any notion of a conflict of interest that her position might suggest. The recent election, conducted on June 1, was a pioneering effort introduced by the governing Morena party, aimed at enhancing democratic accountability within the judiciary by allowing citizens to directly vote for judges.
While supporters of the initiative hailed it a step forward for democracy, opponents expressed concerns about its implications for judicial independence. Voter turnout for this novel electoral process was notably low at just 13%, indicating a lack of public enthusiasm for direct judicial elections, as noted by several observers.
Despite the lukewarm response from the electorate, President Claudia Sheinbaum championed the election as a considerable achievement for the country. As Silvia Delgado prepares to assume her judicial role, all eyes remain on her to see how her past as a defense attorney for a leading figure of organized crime may impact her decisions as judge.
A former defense attorney for Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the notorious drug lord currently serving a life sentence in the U.S., has achieved a significant milestone in Mexico's judicial landscape. Silvia Delgado has been elected as a local criminal judge in Ciudad Juárez during the country's inaugural judicial election. The results, announced on Tuesday, confirmed her victory amidst a highly contentious election process.
Delgado's candidacy encountered scrutiny, with a leading transparency organization claiming that she was among several candidates with purported connections to organized crime. Delgado dismissed these allegations, asserting her role was strictly professional, advocating for the legal rights of her client, El Chapo, before his extradition in 2017.
In a prior interview with BBC, she emphasized that all defendants, including high-profile criminals like El Chapo, are entitled to legal representation, rejecting any notion of a conflict of interest that her position might suggest. The recent election, conducted on June 1, was a pioneering effort introduced by the governing Morena party, aimed at enhancing democratic accountability within the judiciary by allowing citizens to directly vote for judges.
While supporters of the initiative hailed it a step forward for democracy, opponents expressed concerns about its implications for judicial independence. Voter turnout for this novel electoral process was notably low at just 13%, indicating a lack of public enthusiasm for direct judicial elections, as noted by several observers.
Despite the lukewarm response from the electorate, President Claudia Sheinbaum championed the election as a considerable achievement for the country. As Silvia Delgado prepares to assume her judicial role, all eyes remain on her to see how her past as a defense attorney for a leading figure of organized crime may impact her decisions as judge.
