Lawmakers demand judiciary branch reopening

State lawmakers approved a resolution that calls for the judicial branch to reveal the steps to reopen the courts, which per presidential decree, should have never closed.

Legislators unanimously approved Assemblyman Juan Manuel Molina García’s resolution, whereby the State Judicial Council is urged to report on what measures are in place to resume administration of justice while protecting the health of its personnel.

The resolution was also sent to Baja California Superior Court of Justice.

Molina García also requested the state judiciary to report all measures implemented to protect the health of its officials, defendants and attorneys, and anyone considered to belong to one of the high-risk groups for COVID-19.

The legislator recalled the State Judiciary Council issued an agreement on April 30 that extended the term of closure of its facilities until May 30, but it did so without providing precise strategies or measures to gradually resume activities.

Molina added that on March 30, during the plenary session of the General Health Council (CSG), led by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, pandemic was declared a national health emergency.

He explained that authorities agreed on extraordinary measures throughout the country, including the immediate 30-day suspension (from March 30 to April 30) of non-essential activities in the public, private and social sectors.

However, the lawmaker pointed out the agreement determined that the procurement and administration of justice are considered “essential activities.”