In a significant shake-up, eight of Mexico’s 11 Supreme Court justices announced their resignation on Wednesday, setting the stage for heightened political tension between the judiciary and the government. According to a statement from the court, the resignations come as a response to a newly enacted constitutional reform that mandates Supreme Court justices be elected by popular vote, a shift aimed at increasing judicial accountability but one that has sparked strong resistance within the judiciary.

Among those stepping down are Chief Justice Norma Piña, along with Justices Luis María Aguilar, Jorge Mario Pardo, Alfredo Gutiérrez, Alberto Pérez, Javier Laynez, Juan Luis González, and Margarita Ríos. Seven of these resignations will take effect on August 31, 2025, with Aguilar set to leave office slightly earlier, on November 30, 2025.

The reform, which requires justices who opt out of the upcoming June election to resign if they wish to retain their pensions, has stirred discontent across Mexico’s legal community. Many judicial workers have voiced concerns about the reform, claiming it compromises the independence of the judiciary and subjects justices to political pressures. The impending vacancies underscore growing friction between Mexico’s highest court and the ruling coalition, led by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Morena party, which has been a vocal advocate for the changes.

Justice Gutiérrez emphasized in his resignation letter on Tuesday that his decision to leave should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the reform’s constitutionality. Ríos echoed this sentiment in her letter to the Senate, clarifying that her resignation “should not be seen as an implicit endorsement of a [reform] framework that remains controversial.”

The judicial overhaul, passed last month, intends to reduce the Supreme Court’s size from 11 to nine members as part of a broader restructuring of Mexico’s judiciary. As it stands, three of the remaining justices have publicly supported the reforms, while others have yet to disclose their positions. However, the resignations place the Supreme Court in a precarious position as the judiciary continues to clash with both Congress and the presidency over the reforms.

Analysts warn that the upcoming June elections for Supreme Court justices could lead to a constitutional crisis if the resignations are seen as a coordinated resistance to the reform. Critics argue that the law could allow for increased government influence over the court, particularly with justices now having to campaign publicly to retain their seats.

The ongoing standoff between Mexico’s Supreme Court and the federal government reflects deeper issues regarding judicial independence and the role of the judiciary in balancing power. The sweeping resignations are likely to add to concerns over how Mexico’s political landscape could be reshaped, especially as the judiciary undergoes a transformation unseen in recent history.