Silvia Delgado, a lawyer known for her defense of the infamous drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, has been elected as a judge, raising questions about ethics and the impact on the justice system.
Judicial Controversy: Former El Chapo Lawyer Becomes Judge
Judicial Controversy: Former El Chapo Lawyer Becomes Judge
A notable election in Mexico leads to the rise of a controversial figure.
A landmark event in Mexico’s legal landscape has taken place as Silvia Delgado, previously part of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán's defense team, has been elected as a local criminal judge in Ciudad Juárez. The election, which took place on June 1, marked Mexico's inaugural judicial elections, but Delgado's candidacy was mired in controversy. Transparency advocates accused her of connections to organized crime, a claim she vehemently denied, stating that her role as Guzmán's lawyer was strictly professional.
Delgado, 51, defended El Chapo during his legal battles that led to his 2017 extradition to the United States, where he was subsequently convicted of drug trafficking in 2019 and is now serving a life sentence in a supermax prison in Colorado. In an interview prior to the election, she asserted the right to legal representation for all clients, emphasizing her commitment to justice over any perceived conflicts of interest.
Following the election results announced on Tuesday, Delgado opted to wait for official confirmation before making any public comments. This election was significant, as it stemmed from judicial reforms instituted by the Morena party aimed at enhancing democracy within the judicial system. Proponents believe this shift would connect judges more closely to the electorate, while critics argue it jeopardizes judicial independence.
Voter turnout was notably low, resting at 13%, the lowest in any federal election in Mexico, indicating a lack of public enthusiasm for this new method of selecting judges. Despite this, President Claudia Sheinbaum lauded the election as a significant success for democracy in the judiciary. The implications of Delgado's election raise substantial debates about legal ethics and public trust in the justice system going forward.
