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El Chapo's former lawyer and an ex-drug smuggler are on the ballot to be judges in Mexico
Reuters ^ | May 24, 2025 2:06 PM UTC | Cassandra Garrison

Posted on 05/24/2025 4:35:03 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

Summary

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico, May 24 (Reuters) - When residents in the state of Durango vote in Mexico's first judicial elections next weekend, Leopoldo Chavez will be on the ballot for federal judge - despite the nearly six years he served in a U.S. prison.

Chavez was convicted on drug offenses: for smuggling over 4 kilograms of methamphetamines in 2015. Durango is part of Mexico's Golden Triangle, a cartel-controlled region growing marijuana and opium poppies.

"I've never sold myself as the perfect candidate," Chavez said in a video he shared on Facebook. He said he had nothing to hide and had served his time. He declined to comment to Reuters. In the nearby Pacific coast state of Jalisco, Francisco Hernandez is running to be a criminal magistrate even though the last time he served as a judge he was dismissed by the Federal Judiciary Council after an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse and corruption.

He told Reuters the accusations were "slander and defamation." "Let the people judge me," he said. And in Nuevo Leon, Fernando Escamilla is hoping to become a federal criminal judge and says the legal work he did advising lawyers for members of the ultra-violent Los Zetas cartel should not be held against him. His knowledge of extradition law, on which he advised the capos, made him an asset, he told Reuters in an interview.

"Does being an advisor on international or extradition law give you a bad public reputation? I don't think so, since that's the only thing that demonstrates that you have the ability and knowledge to handle these types of situations," Escamilla said.

Ahead of the elections on...

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; Mexico; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; alreuters; cartels; cassandragarrison; durango; elchapo; goldentriangle; leopoldochavez; rooters

1 posted on 05/24/2025 4:35:03 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The same kind of judges we have in the good ole USA.


2 posted on 05/24/2025 4:38:07 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

My comment?
A drug smuggler as judge sounds like a good career match.

But accepting a LAWYER?
That is stooping low. Really low.


3 posted on 05/24/2025 4:38:15 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: MtnClimber

Mexico would never allow the trashy judges we have. Letting the perp out the jury room back door to run from an ICE arrest?


4 posted on 05/24/2025 4:39:41 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Trump should have the military carpet bomb one cartel and let the other cartels fight it out. Then take that dangly bit called Baja as payment.


5 posted on 05/24/2025 4:39:42 PM PDT by HYPOCRACY (Long live The Great MAGA Kangz!)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Nearly as corrupt and evil as Democrat judges.

(but I know, still not as bad as RINOs, right?)


6 posted on 05/24/2025 5:39:08 PM PDT by BobL
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Mexico is infested with corruption. Don’t visit there if you value your life.


7 posted on 05/24/2025 6:12:32 PM PDT by Mlheureux
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
When residents in the state of Durango vote in Mexico's first judicial elections next weekend, Leopoldo Chavez will be on the ballot for federal judge

Federal judges can only be appointed by the president, not elected by citizens. Leave it to Rueters to not know that.
8 posted on 05/24/2025 8:50:21 PM PDT by OneVike (I don't remember the name of the mpve, )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
When residents in the state of Durango vote in Mexico's first judicial elections next weekend, Leopoldo Chavez will be on the ballot for federal judge

Federal judges can only be appointed by the president, not elected by citizens. Leave it to Rueters to not know that.


Oops. I just realized this is Mexico, My brain saw New Mexico
9 posted on 05/24/2025 8:52:01 PM PDT by OneVike (I don't remember the name of the mpve, )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

bttt


10 posted on 05/24/2025 9:05:39 PM PDT by linMcHlp
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To: MtnClimber

Democrats must be expanding to Mexico the party is dead for the most part here smoke still bellowing


11 posted on 05/25/2025 7:14:32 AM PDT by Vaduz
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