Arrests, corruption, and impunity
In 2023, Jesús Humberto Padilla Briones was arrested with a firearm and 17 doses of drugs. Today he seeks to be a District Judge in Nuevo León.
Sects, organized crime, and scandals surround those seeking to become judges and magistrates
In 2023, Jesús Humberto Padilla Briones was arrested with a firearm and 17 doses of drugs. Today he seeks to be a District Judge in Nuevo León.
Several candidates for the Judiciary have raised concerns due to their criminal backgrounds. Some have ties to organized crime and others to controversial religious sects.
Among the candidates are individuals with open investigations and criminal records. Some even have links to organized crime, casting doubt on the integrity of the justice system.
One of the most controversial is Job Daniel Wong Ibarra, a candidate for Circuit Magistrate in Jalisco. He is a minister of La Luz del Mundo, an organization accused of covering up sexual abuse. Its leader, Naasón Joaquín García, is serving a sentence in the United States for these crimes. Despite this, Wong has publicly defended the leader and questioned the judicial accusations.
Edgar Agustín Rodríguez Beiza, a candidate for Circuit Magistrate in CDMX, was linked to a trial in 2018 for sexual abuse. His candidacy remains valid despite these records.
Fernando Escamilla Villarreal seeks to be a District Judge in Nuevo León. Escamilla was a lawyer for high-ranking members of the Los Zetas cartel. Among them, Miguel Ángel Treviño “Z40” and Eleazar Medina “El Chelelo”, both known for their brutality.
Francisco Martín Hernández Zaragoza was dismissed in 2015 for corruption and money laundering. During his time in the Judiciary, he managed influence networks that benefited shell companies. Now he aspires to be a Circuit Magistrate in CDMX.
Jacqueline Silva Betancourt is being investigated for labor abuses against her staff. Her history includes multiple complaints of harassment, threats, and reprisals within courts in the State of Mexico.
The nomination of these profiles confirms the deep institutional decay promoted from the executive power. Far from being a failure of the Judiciary, this situation is a direct consequence of the judicial reform pushed by the federal government, whose true aim is to weaken judicial independence and impose obedient profiles.
Neither the Federal Judiciary Council nor the Morena government have stopped these appointments. This omission reflects a dangerous normalization of cover-up and impunity, under the pretext of democratizing the system. The opacity in the selection processes has been exploited by Morena and its allies to infiltrate individuals who are sympathetic or vulnerable to blackmail.
This is not about institutional renewal, but a political takeover of the Judiciary. Justice experts warn that these appointments severely compromise the independence of the courts. Additionally, they weaken public trust and open the door to judicial resolutions dictated from the National Palace.