TFJA: the other choice

Twenty days ago it seemed res judicata: the reforms to the Organic Law of the Federal Court of Administrative Justice approved by the Morenista majority in the Chamber of Deputies only required the endorsement of the co-legislator to enter into force.

In addition to limiting the current magistrates of that jurisdictional body -who will continue in their position exclusively for the time in which they were appointed–, the transitory provisions of the decree covered any gap, in the event that a magistrate of the third section sought to preside over the TJFA .

A magistrate, to be precise. And it is that the sixth transitory contemplated the assumption that the magistrates of that section -specialized in sanctioning corruption- participated in the renewal of the position that the current head of the Plenary, Rafael Anzures Uribe, will deliver.

“The application will be made, for the only occasion, in order of priority according to the criteria of seniority and gender equity.” The presiding magistrate, Julio Ángel Sabines, and Natalia Téllez Torres Orozco began simultaneously in the third section. In addition to the transitory, the former official of the Fiscal Attorney’s Office would have the support of the National Palace.

A week later, the minutes remained in the Senate freezer. The Political Coordination Board – chaired by Ricardo Monreal – sent it to the justice and second legislative studies commissions, two days before the closing of the regular period work.

The General Plenary must elect the president of the Court in the first session of 2022, convened for next Monday, January 2, at 11:00 a.m. With the Organic Law still in force, the new holder will last three years in his charge and may not be reelected. The eligible Superior Chamber magistrates are those whose appointments cover that period.

The presidents of the two sections –Guillermo Valls Esponda (first) and Magda Zulema Mosri Gutiérrez (second)–, in addition to magistrates Luz María Anaya Domínguez and Julián Alfonso Olivas Ugalde, member of the Governing Board, would be looking for the presidency of the plenary.

According to TFJA sources, none of the applicants would reach the eight votes needed to win the first round. Three years ago, Anzures and Víctor Orduña competed for the presidency, which was resolved by a vote of 8-5.

Side effects

records. Movimiento Ciudadano refrained from registering a candidate for the extraordinary election for the vacant Tamaulipas senate. Thus, there will only be three candidates: Imelda Sanmiguel, for the PAN-PRD-PRI coalition; Manuel Muñoz Cano, for the PVEM, and José Ramón Gómez Leal, for the Morena-PT alliance. From this Wednesday the 28th and until February 15, 2023 they will be able to campaign. The elections will take place on the third Sunday of February.

rudeness. Academic, writer and public servant, Gerardo Laveaga Rincón is among the few officials of the Fourth Transformation to speak out publicly about the affair of Minister Yasmín Esquivel Mossa. Former director of Inacipe, current head of the Transparency and Anti-Corruption Policies Unit of the Public Function, he endorsed the pronouncement of the General Council of the Mexican Lawyers for the UNAM to investigate and determine if there was indeed plagiarism. Laveaga must have remembered his time at the extinct IFAI, when he was questioned about the validity of his master’s degree and his lack of experience.

alberto.aguirre@eleconomista.mx