Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Juan Silva Meza new Supreme Court President: Wonderful news for progressive forces in Mexico

Yesterday, Juan Silva Meza was finally sworn in as new president of Mexico's Supreme Court, Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (SCJN), following a 9-1 vote by his fellow judges (or "ministers").

This is a very important and highly positive development; as La Jornada details, this is a man with a long track record of defending social causes and activists, including those of the brave journalist Lydia Cacho, as well as issuing votes against powerful figures such as Enrique Peña Nieto, Ulises Ruiz, Eduardo Bours and Mario Marín.

Though usually overruled by the majority of the court in these cases, having Juan Silva Meza lead the Supreme Court is clearly a hugely important boost for Mexico's progressive forces, even when narrowly defined as simply those opposing the crimes and ending the impunity of the powers that be, and defending the rights of Mexico's champions of civil and democratic rights.

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