Mexico’s Petite Révolution: Justice and Security Implications of Approving a Fully New Code of Judicial Procedures

Mexico’s Federal Congress is about to vote on a bill that represents the most profound change to Mexico’s judicial procedures since its revolution. This is a silent but quite consequential change, happening right at our border, which will powerfully affect how justice is secured and executed. The bill proposes the creation of a Single Code of Penal Procedures, a single law that will regulate all judicial procedures in Mexico. While this was unthinkable just a couple of years ago, the bill has ignited a profound debate about the future viability of Mexico’s federalism, a country that, as of today, allows each of its 32 states to have their own independent code. Indeed, Mexico’s federal logic, according to which each state-level congress dictates the rules of their justice system, is facing a revolution.