What’s at stake in Mexico's judicial system under sweeping overhaul pushed by the president

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s governing party says judges in the current court system are corrupt, and it wants to push through an extreme proposal to make the country’s entire judicial branch — around 7,000 judges — stand for election.

While some countries like Switzerland and the United States elect some judges indirectly or at the local level, outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador wants citizens to vote on every single judge, appeals court member and justice all the way up to the Supreme Court. The president has clashed repeatedly with judges throughout his six-year term, which ends Sept. 30.

In its present form, the overhaul has drawn criticism domestically and from abroad and leaves a lot of questions to be answered. As the country's Senate prepares to debate — and likely vote in favor of — the contentious overhaul, Mexico's Supreme Court is examining if it can weigh in on challenges to the proposal.

Here is a look at some of the biggest issues at stake.

People would only need a law degree, decent grades, five years of undefined “judicial area experience” and a letter of recommendation from anyone to run for some judgeships. The candidates’ applications would be winnowed down by a committee of experts, and the names of the finalists would then be drawn from a hat, in some cases. Supreme Court justices would require 10 years' experience, but would also be elected.

But many questions remain unanswered, including, for example, how many names would be on the ballots. Hundreds, or potentially thousands, of relatively unknown people could be running for these positions.

Would voters research and read the resumes of all these people, or would political parties simply hand out a list of their preferred candidates to supporters?

It's also not clear who would pay for the candidates' election campaigns.

While the proposal sets limits on campaigning and spending, people who are willing to finance a judgeship candidate may well be those who have a vested interest in court cases.

Judges and court secretaries (something like assistant judges) currently work their way up to higher positions by periodic reviews and evaluation committees.

There are clearly problems with cronyism and favoritism in the current model, and it isn't very good at punishing corrupt judges. At the highest levels, some are nominated or selected by the legislative or executive branches.

It would create so-called faceless judges to hear organized crime cases, to protect their identities and avoid reprisals, threats or pressure against them.

It would create a judicial disciplinary committee that could rule not just on judicial misconduct like bribes, mishandling evidence or improper delays, but also conduct investigations into judges for their legal reasoning.

It would reduce the Supreme Court from 11 justices to nine, and their terms to 12 years from the current 15.

The overhaul has to be approved by the two chambers of Congress. The lower chamber, dominated by the governing party, has already voted in favor by a wide margin. The measure is now headed to the Senate, where it's expected to pass by a razor-thin margin. It must then win approval in 17 of the country’s 32 state legislatures, where the governing party also appears to have sufficient votes.

Once enacted, apart from the cost and time involved in organizing such massive elections, the current judges would all have to be fired and given severance pay. Fired judges could run as candidates. Many of the newly elected judges would be walking into specialized courtrooms and appeals courts that they have never seen or argued cases in before. The learning curve could be long.

The governing party says letting voters decide would make judges more responsive to the popular will and make it easier to punish bad ones.

But in Mexico, the main problem isn't that corrupt judges dismiss too many cases. It’s that police and prosecutors are so ill-trained and overwhelmed that more than 90% of crimes are never brought to court at all.

In 2009, Bolivia implemented voting for some judgeships, but a lot of voters turned in blank ballots and the process has been frozen for the time being.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

CORRECTS TO REMOVE THAT SENATORS ARE DISCUSSING JUDICIAL REFORM - Law students opposing judicial reform organize letters to senators outside an alternate headquarters for senators in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, one day after Mexico's lower house approved the legislation. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Relatives of prisoners rally in favor of the government's proposed judicial reform in Mexico City, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

CORRECTS TO REMOVE THAT SENATORS ARE DISCUSSING JUDICIAL REFORM - Senators hold a session in alternate headquarters due to protesters opposing judicial reform blocking access to their regular chambers, in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, one day after Mexico's lower house approved the reform that would require all judges to stand for election. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

A man shouts uses a bullhorn to shout slogans during a rally in favor of the government's proposed judicial reform outside the Supreme Court building in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

CORRECTS TO REMOVE THAT SENATORS ARE DISCUSSING JUDICIAL REFORM - Senators hold a session in alternate headquarters due to protesters opposing judicial reform blocking access to their regular chambers, in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, one day after Mexico's lower house approved the reform that would require all judges to stand for election . (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

CORRECTS TO REMOVE THAT SENATORS ARE DISCUSSING JUDICIAL REFORM - Demonstrators opposing judicial reform that would require all judges to stand for election, protest outside an alternate headquarters for senators in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, one day after Mexico's lower house approved the legislation. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

CORRECTS TO REMOVE THAT SENATORS ARE DISCUSSING JUDICIAL REFORM - Alejandro Moreno, Institutional Revolutionary Party leader, holds a sign with a message that reads in Spanish: "Judicial Reform unacceptable", outside an alternate headquarters for senators in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, one day after Mexico's lower house approved the legislation. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Relatives of prisoners rally in favor of the government's proposed judicial reform in Mexico City, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

A demonstrator holds the sign "Judicial reform national threat" during a protest outside the Senate against a judicial reform bill in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, the day after Congress passed legislation that would require all judges to stand for election. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Judicial worker Jorge Reyes, wearing a Chapulín Colorado costume, holds a sign that reads in Spanish: "Without judicial power, who will be able to defend us now?" outside the Senate to protest the judicial reform bill in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, the day after Congress passed legislation that would require all judges to stand for election. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

A demonstrator holds the sign "Judicial reform national threat" during a protest outside the Senate against a judicial reform bill in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, the day after Congress passed legislation that would require all judges to stand for election. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

A demonstrator yells into a megaphone to protest against the judicial reform bill outside the Senate in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, the day after Congress passed legislation that would require all judges to stand for election. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Demonstrators protest outside the Senate against the judicial reform bill in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, the day after Congress passed legislation that would require all judges to stand for election. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

A protester holds a poster that reads in Spanish "Senator, don't vote in favor" against the judicial reform bill, outside the Senate in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, the day after Congress passed legislation that would require all judges to stand for election. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Federal court workers block the road in front of the Senate to protest the government's proposed judicial reform in Mexico City, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

The last Emmys — in January, the 75th edition — went reunion crazy on such a big birthday, with cast reunions of such classic series as “Cheers,” “The Sopranos,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “All in the Family.” The latest Emmys said: “Hold my applause.”

“Shogun,” “Baby Reindeer” and “The Bear” all picked up trophies throughout the night that was peppered with reunions of shows like “Saturday Night Live” and “Happy Days,” as well as themes, like TV dads and moms.

Here are some of the night’s notable moments:

The father-and-son duo of Eugene and Dan Levy, the winning stars of the 2020 Emmys aboard “Schitt’s Creek,” hosted and they were warm, mocking themselves as they noted the TV telecast was honoring "movie stars on streaming services.”

Even when the Candians went after a show — like “The Bear,” competing in the best comedy series category, even though it's not a traditional yukfest — it was gentle.

“Now, I love the show, I love the show, and I know some of you will be expecting us to make a joke about whether ‘The Bear’ is really a comedy — but in the true spirit of ‘The Bear,’ we will not be making any jokes,” Eugene Levy said.

In one bit, the two found themselves in the audience but in different rows, mistaking stage left for house left. Awkwardness ensued. When they tried to push through, Eugene Levy wailed: “I can't see the prompter!”

John Oliver thanked a lot of people after his “Last Week Tonight” won for outstanding scripted variety series, but things got weird when he ended up honoring his family’s recently dead dog.

“We have the most fantastic dog, and she was at our wedding and she got us through the pandemic. She was with us for two pregnancies…,” he said, before getting the leave-the-stage music swelled.

Oliver didn’t take the hint: “We had to say goodbye to her. I feel like Sarah McLaughlin right now. She was an amazing dog,” he said. He then shouted an expletive and tried to make it more than about his deceased canine.

“This isn’t just for her. This is for all dogs,” he continued as the auditorium roared. “All dogs, you are all very good girls. You are very good boys. You all deserve a treat. Play me off now! Thanks so much.”

“The West Wing” celebrated its 25th anniversary with castmembers Martin Sheen, Dulé Hill, Richard Schiff, Janel Moloney and Allison Janney gathering to help hand out the best drama trophy.

Created by Aaron Sorkin and first airing on NBC in the fall 1999, “The West Wing” offed an idealistic depiction of what politics can be. The castmembers gathered in a set mimicking the Oval Office. It ended in 2006.

“It's hard to believe that just 25 years ago, Aaron and the writers actually had to use their imaginations to create interesting plot lines for ‘The West Wing,’” Janney said. Added Schiff: “Unlike today, where storylines can be plucked right off the news, storylines that writers would have deemed a bit far-fetched if not utterly ridiculous 25 years ago.”

Jane Lynch, who played vicious cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester on “Glee” and Brendan Hunt, the quiet Coach Willis Beard on “Ted Lasso,” teamed up to help hand out the award for best director of a drama series.

They appeared in a locker room set, with Lynch teasing Hunt that she was a head coach on TV and he was just an assistant coach. But the stage seemed a little too big for just these two TV coaches.

That changed when the stage revealed Paris Olympians Ilona Maher, Caeleb Dressel and Stephen “Pommel Horse Guy” Nedoroscik alongside Paralympian Ezra Frech.

“Saturday Night Live” got a head start to its 50th anniversary next year with a mini-reunion, as Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Seth Meyers and Bowen Yang presented the award for best writing for a variety special.

Three of the four mocked creator and producer Lorne Michaels in the audience, who they claimed was nominated and lost 85 times at the Emmys. Rudolph said he was “robbed.” Yang said “it gets better” and “keep winning.” Meyers corrected them all to say that, in fact, Michaels has actually won 21 Emmys. Yang then leaned into mispronouncing his boss' first name.

It may have been a taste for 2025, when the trailblazing sketch show will be celebrated, including a three-hour live primetime special in February. It has been the springboard for such stars as Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell and Mike Myers.

Antony Starr of “The Boys,” Giancarlo Esposito from “Breaking Bad” and Kathy Bates of “Misery” came out to represent an oddly key part of TV — the villains.

“Without villains or antagonists, there wouldn’t be much of a story,” Esposito said. But it takes its toll. “Do you know how hard it was to get a date after ‘Misery,'” Bates joked about her Stephen King role as a crazed kidnapper.

Esposito complained that drug dealers will interrupt his dinner to ask his advice about building their empires and Starr said so many 12-year-old critics have approached him to say his superhero is “bad.” He responds that the show has an R rating. “It’s sloppy, sloppy parenting,” he observed.

George Lopez, Damon Wayans, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who have all played memorable TV dads, gathered to recognize the lead actor in a comedy series. They walked into a mancave set and Lopez and Wayans said they wanted to thank their TV wives, but Ferguson balked, having starred with a TV husband instead on “Modern Family.” “I’m so sorry, did you watch my show, or...?” he asked them. “Yes, all 90 seasons,” Wayans responded.

Later, it was the moms’ turn. Meredith Baxter, who played the “Family Ties” matriarch, Connie Britton of “Friday Night Lights” and Susan Kelechi Watson of “This Is Us” presented the award for best writing for a comedy series. “We have come a long way,” said Baxter. “TV moms are no longer one-dimensional,” said Watson. “It’s OK to ask for as much as a TV dad.”

Director-producer Ron Howard and actor-author Henry Winkler reunited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of “Happy Days,” a romanticized take on teenage life in the 1950s that pivoted on adolescent humor about cars and dating.

Winkler, who played cool guy Fonzie with his signature “Aaaayy!” with both thumbs up, and Howard, who played the goody-goody Richie Cunningham, became household names thanks to the sitcom, which ran from 1974–1980. Winkler went on to win an Emmy on HBO’s dark comedy “Barry” and spread awareness about dyslexia as a best-selling author; Howard went on direct such Oscar-winners as “Apollo 13” and “A Beautiful Mind.”

The two men met onstage in a set dressed like the diner the show was mostly set in. Winkler congratulated Howard for his Emmy-winning documentary on Jim Henson. But despite some prodding by Howard, Winkler wouldn’t sing the theme song. “I'm out of practice,” he said. “And it takes schooling.” So Winkler nudged the jukebox with his elbow instead and the theme played.

The TV criminal justice system was represented Sunday by two separate but equal parts. There were the cops – Jimmy Smits of “NYPD Blue,” Niecy Nash-Betts of “Reno 911!” and Don Johnson of “Miami Vice.” They appeared on a set with a New York City police car onstage. Smits noted that he died in episode one of “Miami Vice” and later as a cast member of “NYPD Blue.” Nash-Betts said she never died: “I’m Black and I survived ‘Dahmer,’” she joked.

And then there were the TV lawyers who took cases to court: Viola Davis of “How to Get Away with Murder,” Gina Torres from “Suits” and Christine Baranski from “The Good Wife” and “The Good Fight.” (Though, to be honest, Smits was also a good lawyer in “L.A. Law.”)

“Lawyers have seen every combination of the human condition,” Davis said. Added Torres: “In so many ways, they try to better that human condition and uplift us.”

For more coverage of the 2024 Emmys, visit https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards

Damon Wayans, from left, George Lopez, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson present the award for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Janel Moloney, from left, Dule Hill, Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, and Richard Schiff present the award for outstanding drama series during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

John Oliver accepts the award for outstanding scripted variety series for "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Ron Howard, left, and Henry Winkler present the award for outstanding directing for a comedy series during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Ron Howard, left, and Henry Winkler present the award for outstanding directing for a comedy series during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Gina Torres, from left, Viola Davis, and Christine Baranski present the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Brendan Hunt, left, and Jane Lynch present the award for outstanding directing for a drama seriesduring the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Ron Howard, left, and Henry Winkler present the award for outstanding directing for a comedy series during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Hosts Eugene Levy and Dan Levy speak during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Maya Rudolph, from left, Seth Meyers, Kristen Wiig, and Bowen Yang present the award for outstanding writing for a variety special during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Antony Starr, from left, Kathy Bates, and Giancarlo Esposito present the award for outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)