On June 1, 2024, Mexico became the first country where the population directly elected judges at all levels, including the Supreme Court. For the first time, the head of the highest judicial body was a representative of an indigenous people—Hugo Aguilar, a lawyer and public figure who previously worked at the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples.
Aguilar intends to highlight the country’s cultural diversity even outwardly: he will refuse to wear the traditional robe in favor of Mixtec clothing. Together with him, five women were elected to the court, reflecting a growing level of inclusiveness in the judicial system.
Although voter turnout was only 13%, the event is already being described as a watershed moment. It is the first in the world example in which one of the most influential institutions of the state—the judiciary—ended up directly answerable to civil society.
