Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Friday, March 27, 2015

Just a blip on the political landscape or a sign of bigger problems?

A judicial appointment is often controversial. But whether it signifies major political problems is part of another set of questions.

Close ally to Pena Nieto sworn in on Mexico supreme court

A former prosecutor and ambassador who has been questioned about his public service record and close ties to President Enrique Pena Nieto was voted… onto Mexico's Supreme Court.

Mora

Eduardo Medina Mora took the oath of office immediately after being approved by the Senate, despite never having served as a judge, not meeting the residency requirement of two years and facing questions about his impartiality given his links to the presidency…

Critics called his appointment as Supreme Court minister one more sign that the political class is not listening to the concerns of the public as Mexico faces a credibility crisis over of corruption and conflict-of-interest scandals…

Academic and civic organizations launched a petition campaign against Medina Mora's nomination and gathered 54,000 signatures according to the petition Internet site. According to the campaign, Medina Mora's tenure as attorney general was marked by human rights violations and shoddy prosecutions against public officials with alleged ties to organized crime, almost all of whom were eventually exonerated.

He was also criticized for challenging a law in Mexico City that decriminalized abortion…