BTN News: Ricardo Sodi Cuéllar, the head of the Superior Court of Justice in the State of Mexico, says there is an urgent need for judicial reform. He spoke during the National Dialogues on Judicial Reform. He noted a severe lack of judges. In the State of Mexico, there are only 2.8 judges per 100,000 people. This is far below the international standard of 18 judges. Sodi Cuéllar wants quick action to fix this and to make sure everyone can get justice.
There Are Not Enough Judges to Serve All the People in Mexico
Ricardo Sodi Cuéllar pointed out a serious problem. On average, states in Mexico have only 4.6 judges per 100,000 people. The State of Mexico has just 2.8 judges per 100,000 people. This lack of judges causes delays and backlogs in the courts. “Our country has many legal cases but not enough judges. We must reduce this backlog,” Sodi Cuéllar said. He suggested a goal of 10 judges per 100,000 people. To reach this goal, states need more control over their budgets.
Sufficient Funding and Proper Use of Money is Necessary to Fix the Judge Shortage
Sodi Cuéllar said we cannot talk about austerity with so many problems in the judicial system. He called for enough funding and proper use of money. He proposed a new rule. Local judicial budgets should be progressive and should not go below 4% of the state’s budget. He suggested creating a Support Fund for Justice Administration. This would need a change in the Fiscal Coordination Law. This fund would be part of the federal budget. Local courts should not face limits that stop them from hiring more staff.
Looking Forward to How Reforms Will Improve the Judicial System in Mexico
Sodi Cuéllar’s ideas aim to make the judicial system better in Mexico. He said reforms should ensure timely, clear, and good use of funds. This will help hire more judges quickly. “Adding these ideas to the Constitution and setting up a special fund are key steps,” he said. These steps would improve the judge-to-population ratio and make justice faster and better.
Conclusion
Ricardo Sodi Cuéllar’s plans show the urgent need for changes in the judicial system in Mexico. By fixing the lack of judges and ensuring enough funding, these reforms could cut down delays and improve access to justice. His call for action is an important step towards a better judicial system in Mexico.
