On Aug. 19, 2024, various federal judicial bodies in Mexico issued official letters, agreements, and notices suspending activities for an indefinite period in protest of the proposed judiciary reform currently under discussion in the Congress of the Union. On the same date, the Plenary of the Federal Judiciary Council (CJF) issued Memorandum 16/2024 (the Memorandum), acknowledging the situation and announcing certain measures to preserve the administration of justice.

Due to the suspended activities, from Aug. 19, 2024, the judiciary will not comply with legal deadlines and terms for the judicial bodies that specifically agreed to suspend activities on this date, considering such days as non-business days until further notice. However, the judiciary will consider this a general suspension measure for all federal judicial bodies in the country beginning Aug. 21, 2024.

Urgent Cases

According to the Memorandum, and notwithstanding the general suspension of activities, the judiciary will process and attend to urgent cases in accordance with the law by the on-duty body in the respective jurisdiction. These urgent cases include, among others:

• Those covered by Articles 126 and 127 of the Amparo Law and Article 48 of the General Agreement of the Plenary of the CJF: acts that endanger the health, life, liberty, integrity, or health of individuals, those related to migrants, and those that may jeopardize the supply of basic services such as water or electricity.
   
• Urgent appeals against grants or denials of injunctions of relief arising from amparo proceedings.
   
• Protective, precautionary, or safeguard measures in cases of domestic violence and violence against women; determinations regarding alimony and cases affecting the best interests of minors.
   
• Matters related to strike procedures.

In general terms, a case may be considered urgent when (i) the human rights of an individual may be violated, the potential violation is significant, and consequences may arise from the suspension, and (ii) it may impact access to economic and social rights for individuals in particularly vulnerable situations.

Suspension of Deadlines in Mexico City

Some of the Mexico City judicial bodies of the federal judiciary have issued specific agreements to suspend activities beginning Aug. 19 and for an indefinite period:

• District courts in administrative matters specialized in economic competition, broadcasting, and telecommunications, with residence in Mexico City and jurisdiction throughout the republic.
   
• Collegiate courts in administrative matters of the first circuit.
   
• District courts in administrative matters of Mexico City.
   
• District courts and tribunals located in the headquarters building of the federal judiciary, located in San Lázaro (16 collegiate courts in labor matters, 16 collegiate courts in civil matters, 2 auxiliary district courts, 9 district courts in labor matters, 14 district courts in civil matters, and 6 district courts in forfeiture matters).

In these judicial bodies, judicial terms are suspended from Aug. 19 until activities resume, the date of which will be communicated through the corresponding notice.

Electronic System

The judiciary’s electronic system will continue operating solely to receive urgent matters, and such matters will be processed through shifts with minimally essential personnel. Likewise, judiciary officials may have the ability to work from home.

*This alert was prepared on Aug. 22, 2024, and the information herein may change subsequently.