Indigenous lawyer to head Mexico’s supreme court after direct election

Hugo Aguilar, an Indigenous lawyer from Oaxaca, was elected president of Mexico’s supreme court following a groundbreaking popular vote system led by Morena, marking the first time Indigenous individuals hold top judicial roles. Despite winning, he has distanced himself from his activist roots and now aligns with the government on controversial mega-projects like the Maya Train, sparking concerns about a shift in power dynamics within the judiciary. Critics warn that this election could weaken democratic institutions by centralizing executive influence over judicial independence.