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Mexico To Establish Public Trials By 2016

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

MEXICO CITY - Mexico threw open the doors to its judicial system Tuesday, allowing U.S.-style public trials and creating a presumption of innocence.

Under the long-awaited constitutional amendment signed by President Felipe Calderon, guilt or innocence will no longer be decided behind closed doors by a judge relying on written evidence.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys now will argue their cases in court, and judges must explain their decisions to defendants.

"This is perhaps the most important reform to the criminal system that Mexicans have had in a long time," Calderon said after signing the amendment.

Mexico now faces the long task of implementing the changes, which the law says must be in place by 2016.

That includes training thousands of lawyers and judges across the country on the logistics of holding a trial. Even courthouses must be modified to make room for Mexicans who will be able to attend trials for the first time.

The Associated Press

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