Judicial Politics in Mexico : The Supreme Court and the Transition to Democracy

After more than seventy years of uninterrupted authoritarian government headed by the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), Mexico formally began the transition to democracy in 2000. Unlike most other new democracies in Latin America, no special Constitutional Court was set up, nor was there any designated bench of the Supreme Court for constitutional adjudication. Instead, the judiciary saw its powers expand incrementally. Under this new context inevitable questions emerged: How have the justices interpreted the constitution? What is the relation of the court with the other political institutions? How much autonomy do justices display in their decisions? Has the court considered the necessary adjustments to face the challenges of democracy? It has become essential in studying the new role of the Supreme Court to obtain a more accurate and detailed diagnosis of the performances of its justices in this new political environment. Through critical review of relevant debates and using original data sets to empirically analyze the way justices voted on the three main means of constitutional control from 2000 through 2011, leading legal scholars provide a thoughtful and much needed new interpretation of the role the judiciary plays in a country’s transition to democracy This book is designed for graduate courses in law and courts, judicial politics, comparative judicial politics, Latin American institutions, and transitions to democracy. This book will equip scholars and students with the knowledge required to understand the importance of the independence of the judiciary in the transition to democracy. After More Than Seventy Years Of Uninterrupted Authoritarian Government Headed By The Partido Revolucionario Institucional (pri), Mexico Formally Began The Transition To Democracy In 2000. Unlike Most Other New Democracies In Latin America, No Special Constitutional Court Was Set Up, Nor Was There Any Designated Bench Of The Supreme Court For Constitutional Adjudication. Instead, The Judiciary Saw Its Powers Expand Incrementally. Under This New Context Inevitable Questions Emerged: How Have The Justices Interpreted The Constitution? What Is The Relation Of The Court With The Other Political Institutions? How Much Autonomy Do Justices Display In Their Decisions? Has The Court Considered The Necessary Adjustments To Face The Challenges Of Democracy? It Has Become Essential In Studying The New Role Of The Supreme Court To Obtain A More Accurate And Detailed Diagnosis Of The Performances Of Its Justices In This New Political Environment. Through Critical Review Of Relevant Debates And Using Original Data Sets To Empirically Analyze The Way Justices Voted On The Three Main Means Of Constitutional Control From 2000 Through 2011, Leading Legal Scholars Provide A Thoughtful And Much Needed New Interpretation Of The Role The Judiciary Plays In A Country's Transition To Democracy.-- The Transformations Of The Role Of The Mexican Supreme Court / Andrea Pozas Loyo And Julio Ríos Figueroa -- The Law As Power : Strategic Litigation In Mexico / Pedro Salazar Ugarte -- Are Mexican Justices True Arbiters Among Political Elites? : An Empirical Analysis Of The Court's Rulings From 2000-2011 / Andrea Castagnola And Saúl López Noriega -- The Supreme Court And The (no) Rights Revolution : An Empirical Analysis Of The Court's Rulings 2000-2011 / Andrea Castagnola And Saúl López Noriega -- Constitutional Change And The Supreme Court Institutional Architecture : Decisional Indeterminacy As An Obstacle To Legitimacy / Francisca Pou Giménez. Edited By Andrea Castagnola And Saúl López Noriega. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Analyzes the role the Supreme Court had in the highly anticipated democratization process and on the quality of democracy in Mexico.