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Mexico Creates New, Transparent Legal System, June 18, 2008

A Mexican constitutional amendment was signed into law by the Senate and President Felipe Calderon, which allows for various changes to Mexico’s court system, including public trials, a right to face the accuser, prosecutors and defense attorneys arguing in court, and a presumption of innocent until proven guilty. Mexico’s former court system, relying on judges working behind closed doors with written evidence, has been called “medieval” attacked by human rights organizations like Amnesty International for their lack of transparency and the extensive detention times (up to eighty days). Additional measures taken with the amendment include requiring police officers to obtain warrants, requiring police to purge ranks of corrupt officers, and charging local law enforcement with organized crime.


News Stories:

"Mexico adopts US-style public trials "
Associated Press June 17, 2008
"Mexico Revises Its Justice System "
Washington Post June 17, 2008
"Mexico's Calderon Signs Law to Boost Judicial System Efficiency "
Bloomberg June 17, 2008
"Mexico constitutional reforms to revolutionize judicial system "
The Jurist June 17, 2008

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June 18, 2008