Mexico’s Supreme Court holds its first session outside Mexico City, in Chiapas

Mexico’s Supreme Court Goes Local, Holds Historic Session in Indigenous Town

In an unprecedented move to bring justice closer to the people, Mexico’s Supreme Court conducted its first-ever session outside Mexico City on Thursday, convening under a tent in the central square of Tenejapa, a mountain town in the southern state of Chiapas.

Around 2,000 people gathered to witness the court’s deliberations in this historic session, marking the beginning of an initiative to make the country’s highest judicial body more accessible to citizens in remote regions.

“Often in our communities we only feel the effects of a decision” taken far away, said Chief Justice Hugo Aguilar during the session. “Now, the goal is that you see how we deliberate, that you know what we say, how we consider and make a decision.”

Aguilar, an Indigenous lawyer from neighboring Oaxaca state, leads the first Supreme Court to be popularly elected under a recent constitutional reform. His presence in Tenejapa carried particular significance for the largely Indigenous audience.

Among those attending were Indigenous leaders and local authorities, some holding signs declaring “right to self-determination.” The session addressed several regional cases, including one from the community of La Candelaria in San Cristobal de las Casas, which has been seeking self-governance for years.

María de la Cruz Velasco, president of a foundation supporting femicide victims, expressed her approval of the court’s outreach efforts. “It makes me happy that this new minister comes out to the towns, to cities to carry out justice because we really need to listen to the people,” she said.

Velasco shared her personal experience with Mexico’s justice system, recalling how local courts initially refused to classify her daughter’s murder as femicide. The Supreme Court eventually intervened, recognizing the gender-based nature of the crime. “Today my daughter’s killer is serving 55 years in prison,” she noted.

While Supreme Court proceedings are typically technical and difficult for non-lawyers to follow, the institution has built a reputation for defending human rights with a progressive perspective, particularly for Indigenous communities and victims of violence. This commitment to justice has earned the court credibility among marginalized populations, even when local authorities have failed to implement its rulings.

The move to hold sessions outside the capital reflects broader reforms to Mexico’s judicial system. Last year’s constitutional changes introduced popular elections for Supreme Court justices, a controversial measure intended to make the court more responsive and accountable to citizens.

Critics widely condemned the electoral process as an attempt to politicize the country’s highest court. Voter turnout was notably low, and candidates aligned with the ruling party secured a majority of seats. These concerns, however, were not raised during Thursday’s session in Tenejapa, where the focus remained on the court’s unprecedented outreach.

The decision to begin this series of external sessions in Chiapas holds particular significance. The state is home to numerous Indigenous communities that have historically struggled to access justice through Mexico’s legal system. By bringing the court directly to these communities, the justices are signaling a commitment to addressing long-standing concerns about judicial accessibility.

For the residents of Tenejapa and surrounding areas, the Supreme Court’s visit represented more than a symbolic gesture. It offered a rare opportunity to witness firsthand the deliberative process that shapes legal decisions affecting their lives and communities.

As Mexico continues to navigate complex issues of justice reform and Indigenous rights, this initiative may serve as a model for making other government institutions more accessible to citizens throughout the country, particularly those in traditionally underserved regions.