Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 08.pdf/228

 The Supreme Court of Mexico.

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THE SUPREME COURT OF MEXICO, AND THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM OF THAT COUNTRY. 1

By Hon. Walter Clark.

NOTWITHSTANDING Mexico is our next-door neighbor, probably there is no country in regard to whose judicial system the members of the legal profession in this country have less information.

Mexico has some what over twelve mil lions of people. Its political institutions are largely patterned upon ours. There are twenty-seven States, two Territo ries, and a Federal District. For each State two senators are chosen by popu lar election for the term of four years, one half going out every two years. The members of the lower house of Congress are chosen every two years upon the basis of population, as with us. The President is chosen every four MANTEL HE years by electors chosen by the people. The Federal judiciary consists of one Supreme Court, circuit courts, and district courts. The States have, as with us, each its Supreme Court, superior courts and justices of the peace. Also each State has its governor and legislature. Thus it will be seen how closely the organization of their judiciary, legislative and executive departments resembles that in this country. There is a vast difference, however, in the administration of the courts.

As to the organization of the courts: The Federal Supreme Court of Justice is composed of eleven justices and four sub stitutes, a Government Attorney and an Attorney-General. They hold office for six years and are elected by popular vote. The Government At torney and AttorneyGeneral sit as integral parts of the Court. So, also, in practice do the four substi tutes (so-called), who are in effect simply additional justices. The eleven justices are divided into three Departments or Salas, the first Sala being composed of five justices, and the second and third are each composed of three. The four ad ditional justices, the Government Attor ney (fiscal) and the ZAUACONA. Attorney- General, are likewise appor tioned between the three Salas, or Court Divisions. On questions of constitutional law the whole seventeen sit as one body. The Chief-Justice is elected yearly by the members of the Court. The jurisdiction of the Federal Supreme Court, of the Federal Circuit and District courts and of the State courts is very nearly the same as in the United States. The Circuit Courts have about the same duties as the Circuit Court of Appeals in