On June 1, 2025, Mexico held its first simultaneous elections for over 2,600 judicial positions, including seats in the Supreme Court, as part of the Morena government’s reform aimed at boosting transparency and accountability within the judicial branch.
However, participation was alarmingly low: just 11% in local elections and 13% in the federal race.
This low level of citizen engagement has sparked questions about the legitimacy and representativeness of the new judges.
Amid this context, the election of Silvia Rocío Delgado García as a criminal court judge in the Bravos Judicial District of Chihuahua has unleashed a storm of criticism and concern across Mexico.
Known for having been part of the legal team defending Joaquín «El Chapo» Guzmán, head of the Sinaloa Cartel, Delgado received 23,605 votes in the judicial election of June 1, securing second place among candidates and a position within the state’s judicial branch for the next nine years.
Her rise, in the framework of the controversial judicial reform promoted by the Morena party, raises serious questions about the integrity of the judicial system and the influence of organized crime within Mexican institutions.
A Past Linked to Drug Trafficking
Silvia Rocío Delgado García, 51, earned a law degree from the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez (UACJ), a master’s degree in Amparo from the University of Durango, and a specialization in Mediation from the Superior Court of Justice of Chihuahua.
Between 2016 and 2017, she was part of the legal team defending «El Chapo» Guzmán during his imprisonment at the Federal Social Rehabilitation Center (Cefereso) No. 9 in Ciudad Juárez, prior to his extradition to the United States.
During that time, Delgado publicly denounced irregularities in the conditions of the drug lord’s imprisonment, such as being denied an additional blanket and alleged mistreatment by guards, according to reports from the weekly Zeta.
In a Deutsche Welle documentary, Delgado called the trial against Guzmán in the United States “a farce” and stated that he “did not have a fair trial,” a position that has fueled criticism about her impartiality.
Civil society organizations such as Defensorxs and Projuc have included her in a list of “highly risky” candidacies due to her professional background, arguing that her ties with one of the world’s most notorious drug traffickers compromises the constitutional requirement of “good reputation” necessary for serving as a judge.
The Judicial Election: A Process Under Scrutiny
The judicial elections held on June 1, 2025, in Chihuahua were part of the constitutional reform approved in 2024, which allows judges and magistrates to be elected by popular vote.
In the Bravos District, citizens chose judges for 83 positions, including 49 for the criminal court, with seven specializing in drug dealing. Delgado competed against nine candidates — five women and five men — and came in second place with a turnout of only 11% at the local level and 13% at the federal level.
The low turnout has been one of the main criticisms of the judicial reform, along with the lack of effective mechanisms to ensure candidate suitability.
Miguel Meza, president of Defensorxs, accused the National Electoral Institute (INE) of “de facto erasing” the requirement of a good reputation by allowing Delgado and other questionable candidates to run. The organization has filed complaints against at least 20 elected candidates, seeking to have their victories overturned.
Delgado’s Response to Criticism
During her campaign, Delgado responded to the accusations by stating that her experience as a criminal defense lawyer, including defending “El Chapo,” demonstrated her “character and strength” to enforce justice.
She asserted, “They speak from ignorance; my fellow lawyers know I am a person of impeccable conduct.” On social media, she shared messages highlighting her academic background and commitment to justice while distributing flyers on the streets of Ciudad Juárez.
In debates organized by the State Electoral Institute (IEE), Delgado expressed her support for the judicial reform, arguing that electing judges by popular vote prevents judges from issuing rulings just to “protect their position.” She proposed periodic reviews of judicial performance and a professional career service for future candidates, vowing to base her decisions on “the facts and applicable law” to guarantee impartiality.
In the same election, Hortencia García Rodríguez, who in 2024 ordered the release of former governor César Duarte — accused of corruption — was elected to a seat in the Superior Court of Justice of Chihuahua with 88,920 votes.
Similarly, Yadira Anette Gramer Quiñónez, legal advisor to PAN Governor María Eugenia Campos, was appointed to the Disciplinary Court. These results have sparked suspicion about the influence of politics in the process.
The election of Silvia Rocío Delgado García as a criminal court judge in Chihuahua is a symptom of the inherent risks posed by a poorly designed judicial reform.
The fact that a former lawyer of “El Chapo” Guzmán will now preside over hearings, including drug dealing cases, in a region ravaged by organized crime, should set off alarm bells.
Justice cannot be a populist experiment nor a political battleground. Mexico needs an independent, professional, and ethically solid judicial system — one that is not vulnerable to the influences of organized crime or partisan interests.
The post Former “El Chapo” Attorney Elected Judge in Chihuahua, Mexico — Drug‑Trafficking Links Expose Flaws in Morena’s New Judicial System Legitimacy appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.