Global Women Litigators' Breakfast at the IBA Annual Conference 2024

Amina Hassan
Hughes, Hubbard & Reed, New York

Women in the judiciary and judicial reform

During the 2024 Annual IBA Conference, the Global Women Litigators Breakfast hosted a timely discussion with Magistrate Mariana Moreddu on the then-recently passed and heavily protested judicial reforms in Mexico that were widely believed to threaten the independence of the Mexican judiciary and the rule of law.  

On 15 September, outgoing Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador promulgated into law a series constitutional amendments restructuring the judicial structure in the country.  Among other changes, the so-called judicial reforms replaced Mexico’s appointment-based system for selecting judges with a system in which Supreme Court justices, circuit court magistrates, and district court judges, preselected by the executive, legislative and judicial branches, would be elected by popular vote. Candidates would not be required to have judicial experience.

The 15 September reforms sparked nationwide protests. Amidst the turbulence, Magistrate Mariana Moreddu (ret) made the bold decision to participate in the Global Women Litigators Breakfast held two days later.  

Magistrate Moreddu shared her deep concern that new judges, although apparently elected by popular vote, effectively would be chosen by the majority party, leading to an autocratic system in which the dominant party’s ideology would dominate. She predicted that the loss of checks and balances would eventually also cause foreign investors to turn away from Mexico, impacting foreign investment in the country. She made an impassioned plea for the international legal community’s support in upholding the rule of law in Mexico

Magistrate Moreddu also shared highlights of her inspiring 30-year career in the judiciary. She recounted the challenges of working in an environment with very few women and in which decisions by male judges were generally considered better than and preferred over those by women judges. Nonetheless, Magistrate Moreddu cherished the time she spent doing public service. Now retired, she is committed to continue giving back to Mexico and is working with a consultancy which focuses on promoting diversity and equal opportunity.

The session was moderated by Justice Liam Kennedy (Irish High Court, Dublin) and Samaneh Hosseini (Stikeman Elliott, Toronto).