Certificates are delivered to judges, amid questions of legitimacy

Closing an electoral period marked by questions of legitimacy and the use of so-called "accordions," the National Electoral Institute (INE) delivered majority certificates to the 801 judges and magistrates elected during the judicial elections held on June 1.

After a two-week delay, and in a massive ceremony lasting more than eight hours, the INE presented the certificates of winners to the first 438 magistrates and 363 judges who will enter the judiciary by popular vote.

From very early on, the new judges,

In suits and formal dresses, they gathered on the esplanade of the so-called "house of democracy," where tents were set up so that one by one they could receive the document that certifies them as winners of the position for which they competed in the last Judicial election.

An event that grew from the solemnity with which the winning ministers of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) were recognized.

Meanwhile, because it was impossible for everyone to enter the INE auditorium at the same time, where the ceremonies to formalize the victories were held, the electoral body opted to divide the process into three blocks.

Once inside, with their certificates in hand, the newly appointed judges listened to the acceptance speech by Chief Justice Guadalupe Taddei, before posing for a group photo in which they were difficult to distinguish. The entire event lasted only 15 minutes.

"Long live those who won without a party," Amarande Riojas Orozco, the elected criminal judge of Mexico City, declared at the end of the first ceremony.

Holding a Mexican flag, the new judge sought to vindicate those candidates from the judiciary.

“Long live democracy! Long live those who won without parties, without support or anything, those who had hope, who trusted in this process. Not everything was decided, we went out to shower and look for legitimate votes. Long live those who can hold their heads high and say: I won, we won, and Mexico won. A new judiciary is coming with the hope that everything will turn out well. Those of us who hold the vacation from service and, above all, the judicial career in our hearts. Long live Mexico!” he shouted to those present.

It's worth noting that these ceremonies also recognized the triumph of candidates Eluzai Rafael Aguilar, district judge-elect in Jalisco, and Madián Sinaí Menchaca Sierra, administrative judge-elect in Jalisco; both are reported to have ties to the La Luz del Mundo church.

When questioned on the subject, the now elected judge, Eluzai Rafael Aguilar, who is the daughter of Samuel Rafael Quintana, minister of La Luz del Mundo, declined to comment on this religious congregation.

“Whatever you want to know about the Church, I am not the conduit, I am a citizen who won an election.

"I'm not a spokesperson for the church, I'm not a spokesperson for the church, you'll have to ask their spokesperson," she said, visibly uncomfortable.