Ex-Drug Smuggler, El Chapo’s Lawyer Run Mexico Judicial Elections

Mexico is preparing for its first-ever judicial elections, with candidates including individuals whose pasts have sparked controversy and concern over the country's judicial reform. Leopoldo Chavez, a federal judge candidate from Durango, served nearly six years in a U.S. prison for smuggling methamphetamine but asserts he has nothing to hide and has served his time. In Jalisco, Francisco Hernandez seeks election despite prior dismissal from the bench amid allegations of sexual abuse and corruption, which he denies. Meanwhile, Fernando Escamilla in Nuevo Leon defends his candidacy despite past legal advising for members of the violent Los Zetas cartel, arguing his expertise in extradition law demonstrates his qualifications. These candidacies come amid a judicial overhaul initiated by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and supported by President Claudia Sheinbaum, intended to root out corruption but criticized for potentially undermining the rule of law. Civil organizations, judicial associations, and lawmakers have raised alarms about the election, warning that it risks deepening instability in Mexico's fragile justice system.