Saturday, July 26, 2025

Who is Hugo Aguilar, Mexico’s first elected Supreme Court President?

Hugo Aguilar Ortíz, an indigenous lawyer from Oaxaca, has become the first directly elected Indigenous president of Mexico’s Supreme Court, a historic milestone that is stirring controversy and debate over his record and the future of Mexican justice.

Aguilar, who grew up in the Mixtec community of San Agustín Tlacotepec, gained prominence in the 1990s for his involvement with the Zapatista movement and legal advocacy for indigenous communities. Later, he entered government service, serving as Subsecretary of Indigenous Rights and as General Coordinator of Indigenous Rights at the National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI).

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mexico News Daily (@mexiconewsdaily)

His transition from activist to establishment figure has drawn criticism from some indigenous groups, who accuse him of being “corrupted by power.” Aguilar also faces scrutiny for his role in government consultations on controversial megaprojects, including the Tren Maya and Interoceanic Corridor. The United Nations has documented several irregularities in these processes.

Despite Aguilar’s pledge to introduce legal pluralism and integrate indigenous legal systems into the Supreme Court, critics question his impartiality, citing his lack of constitutional law experience and ties to former President López Obrador. His historic appointment raises pressing concerns about the court’s independence and the protection of indigenous rights.

María Melendez returns with the latest episode of our “Who’s Who in Mexican politics” series.

Mexico News Daily

1 COMMENT

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
inside a Cruz Roja ambulance

A year after El Mayo’s capture, Sinaloa’s capital is seen as Mexico’s most dangerous city 

0
A survey of Culiacán residents found that a staggering 90.8% of them feel their city is unsafe, more than double the figure from a year ago and higher than any other urban area in Mexico
President Sheinbaum at the podium during her mañanera press conference on July 25.

Sheinbaum condemns war in Gaza: Friday’s mañanera recapped

1
The president reiterated her support for peaceful coexistence between "the state of Israel and the state of Palestine." She also vowed to "pacify" the troubled state of Sinaloa.
Alicia Bárcena and Zeldin hold up copies of a signed agreement to fund sewage treatment for the Tijuana River

Mexico and US sign agreement to end Tijuana sewage crisis

7
For decades, raw sewage flowing into the Tijuana River has washed into the Pacific Ocean, polluting beaches on both sides of the border— a problem the deal aims to solve by the end of 2027.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity