SCJN launches "Dialogues for Open Justice" in Querétaro; Minister Lenia Batres calls to protect judicial independence

The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) has initiated a new program called "Dialogues for Open Justice" in Querétaro, aiming to foster a more accessible and responsive justice system. This initiative seeks to exchange perspectives and make justice more attuned to people's realities.

During the inaugural event, Minister Lenia Batres Guadarrama highlighted the importance of dialogue between institutions and citizens. She stated that such exchanges enhance transparency, accountability, and public trust in the judicial process. Batres emphasized that institutional openness and public scrutiny are crucial for safeguarding judicial independence and lending greater legitimacy to court decisions.

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We are not going to submit sentences to a vote, of course not. But notice how important citizen participation can be for protecting judicial independence when we are observed.

"We are not going to submit sentences to a vote, of course not. But notice how important citizen participation can be for protecting judicial independence when we are observed," Batres remarked. She added, "Because the more transparent we are with these types of exercises, the harder it is for illegitimate powers to try to coerce, through corruption, any of our sentences."

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Because the more transparent we are with these types of exercises, the harder it is for illegitimate powers to try to coerce, through corruption, any of our sentences.

The program is part of a national strategy to bring justice closer to communities, promote civic engagement, and build stronger trust between institutions and society. Karina López Regalado, the SCJN's Director General of Social Attention and Participation, noted that justice is fortified when people's input is incorporated. These dialogues are designed to identify the needs and experiences of those who interact daily with the justice system, fostering understanding among authorities, legal professionals, and civil society, and generating proposals for a more open and inclusive justice system.

Workshops during the event covered critical topics such as access to justice for indigenous peoples, the Civil and Family Procedural Reform, judging with a gender perspective, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in the administration of justice. The contributions from these sessions will be compiled by the SCJN's Directorate General of Attention and Participation.

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justice is strengthened when people's participation is incorporated.