Andrea Becerril and Néstor Jiménez
La Jornada Newspaper
Wednesday, October 22, 2025, p. 12
In the midst of the controversy over what proceeds in the case of the judge of the Electoral Tribunal of the Judicial Branch of the Federation (TEPJF) Janine Otálora Malassis, who decided that her functions end on the 31st and will not wait until 2027, as the judicial reform makes possible, the Senate gave entry to the notification that was sent to her.
The president of the Political Coordination Board, Adán Augusto López Hernández (Morena), pointed out that in his opinion the Otálora seat may remain vacant until the June 2027 election, while Enrique Inzunza, his benchmate, considered that, from the outset, the magistrate’s writing should be rejected, since in order to retire she must present her resignation.
He explained that his position is strictly personal, “as a jurist,” and part of what is stated in article 98 of the Constitution, second paragraph,” which establishes that the decision to definitively separate from the position of judges, magistrates and ministers only proceeds with the figure of resignation “for serious reasons,” which must be qualified by the Senate and, where appropriate, approved by a majority.
In her writing, Otálora argues that on October 20, 2016, that chamber of Congress elected her to the position for a period of nine years, which ends on the 31st.
He pointed out that although the judicial amendment published on September 15, 2024 states in its fourth transitional article that the judges of the acting superior chamber of the TEPJF will remain in office until 2027, “I have made the decision to accept my first appointment.”
Inzunza commented that in this writing there is no serious cause for the retirement and, in his opinion, “the Senate should reject it, since although she was appointed for a first term, it was extended in the Constitution.”
The coordinator of the PRI senators, Manuel Añorve, considered that the decision should be respected, because she “will have her reasons” for having made it.
Separately, Adán López said that they will assess what proceeds, since yesterday the plenary session only acknowledged the writing. To replace her, he explained, there are not many alternatives, since it is not technically possible for the person who came in third place in last June’s election – in which the two pending positions in the TEPJF were voted on – to assume office, because his magistracy was not subject to election.
The upper chamber, he highlighted, can work with six members, since for a long time it did so with five magistrates.
The PAN coordinator, Ricardo Anaya, said that a third option is for the Senate to appoint her, as was done before the judicial reform, and called for identifying which route most adheres to the Constitution, “without agandalles and without politicizing.”
