In a historic yet controversial electoral outcome, Silvia Delgado secured a position as a local criminal judge in Ciudad Juárez, despite accusations linking her to organized crime. The elections were marked by an unprecedented low voter turnout, raising questions about public interest in judicial elections.
Lawyer Who Represented 'El Chapo' Takes Judicial Role in Groundbreaking Elections
Lawyer Who Represented 'El Chapo' Takes Judicial Role in Groundbreaking Elections
Silvia Delgado, a former defense lawyer for notorious drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, has made headlines after being elected as a judge in Mexico's inaugural judicial elections.
Silvia Delgado, known for her defense of imprisoned drug kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, was elected as a local criminal judge in Ciudad Juárez during Mexico’s first judicial elections. The elections, held on June 1, were the first of their kind following significant reforms pushed by the governing Morena party, which aimed to increase democracy within the judiciary by allowing citizens to directly vote for judges, including those at the Supreme Court level.
Despite winning the election amid accusations from transparency advocates that linked her candidacy to organized crime, Delgado defended her actions, stating, “I was merely doing my job as a lawyer.” El Chapo, the infamous leader of the Sinaloa cartel, was extradited to the U.S. in 2017, where he was found guilty of drug trafficking in 2019, and is currently serving a life sentence in a Colorado supermax prison.
Despite the controversy surrounding her election, Delgado chose not to comment following the announcement of her victory, pending official confirmation. Critics of the judicial reform speculated that the low turnout of just 13% - the lowest for a federal vote in Mexico - reflected a general disinterest among citizens in electing judges directly. However, President Claudia Sheinbaum heralded the elections as a significant success for democratic progression in Mexico, affirming her belief in the legitimacy of the electoral process.
Despite winning the election amid accusations from transparency advocates that linked her candidacy to organized crime, Delgado defended her actions, stating, “I was merely doing my job as a lawyer.” El Chapo, the infamous leader of the Sinaloa cartel, was extradited to the U.S. in 2017, where he was found guilty of drug trafficking in 2019, and is currently serving a life sentence in a Colorado supermax prison.
Despite the controversy surrounding her election, Delgado chose not to comment following the announcement of her victory, pending official confirmation. Critics of the judicial reform speculated that the low turnout of just 13% - the lowest for a federal vote in Mexico - reflected a general disinterest among citizens in electing judges directly. However, President Claudia Sheinbaum heralded the elections as a significant success for democratic progression in Mexico, affirming her belief in the legitimacy of the electoral process.
