“A good judge is not defined by a cap and gown”: Sheinbaum

MEXICO CITY (apro).- "A good judge is not defined by a cap and gown," said President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, in relation to the statements of the next chief justice of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), Hugo Aguilar, to the effect that he will not wear a gown, but rather traditional indigenous clothing during his term.

At her morning press conference this Tuesday at the National Palace, the federal president was asked whether she had already reviewed the issue with the legal counsel, as she had mentioned a few days ago, to which she replied:

"We haven't reviewed it, to be honest, but we can continue to review it. We'll leave that to Congress."

The federal leader was going to leave the comment there, but she took the courage and continued:

"A good judge isn't defined by a cap and gown; he's defined by his honesty, his knowledge, and how he applies justice. The cap and gown are, therefore, part of a protocol that was established at a certain time, but that doesn't define a good judge or not."

And in an ironic tone, he said: “Look how many corrupt judges don’t wear caps and gowns, yet they go around releasing taxes…”

The former head of government of Mexico City took the opportunity to remind everyone that "there are several people there, you know who, who owe a lot of taxes, and whose cases are about to be determined in the coming days."

He then reiterated that the decision on whether or not Aguilar wears a robe at the SCJN "I don't think it's up to the Executive Branch to decide; we leave that to Congress, for Congress to decide."

Finally, President Sheinbaum Pardo said she has no meeting planned with Hugo Aguilar.

On June 11, Morena senators and allies presented a bill to the Permanent Commission to amend Article 4 of the Organic Law of the Federal Judiciary to eliminate the mandatory use of the gown and cap during plenary sessions of the SCJN, in order to "eradicate symbols" of "distance and elitism" in the country's highest court.