Mexico amends justice system to require more open trials
MEXICO CITY – Mexico threw open the doors to its judicial system Tuesday, allowing U.S.-style public trials and creating a presumption of innocence.
Under the long-awaited constitutional amendment signed by President Felipe Calderon, guilt or innocence will no longer be decided behind closed doors by a judge relying on written evidence.
Prosecutors and defense lawyers will now argue their cases in court, and judges must explain their decisions to defendants.
“This is perhaps the most important reform to the criminal system that Mexicans have had in a long time,” Calderon said after signing the amendment.
The law is expected to go into effect Thursday, a day after it is published in the Federal Registry. But it is unclear how quickly Mexico will start having public trials.
Mexico now faces the long, tedious task of implementing the changes, which must be in place by 2016 according to the law.
That includes training thousands of lawyers and judges across the country on the logistics of holding a trial. Even courthouses must be modified to make room for Mexicans who will be able to attend trials.
It will likely take even longer to change the culture surrounding treatment of the accused in Mexico, where suspects are routinely paraded before cameras – sometimes holding weapons they are accused of using in crimes – even before they have been charged.
“Now we can offer citizens a more transparent judicial system that respects human rights and protects your rights with more speed and efficiency,” Calderon said.