2025 Judicial Elections: Differences between minister, magistrate, and judge and what they do

On June 1, 2025 , thousands of Mexicans will have the opportunity to vote for judges, magistrates, and ministers of the Federal Judicial Branch for the first time. But what does each of these positions do, and why is it important to know before going to the polls?

At La Verdad Noticias, we explain all the details so you can arrive on election day with all the necessary information.

A judge is the person who resolves legal problems between people or institutions, whether in civil, criminal, administrative, or labor cases. They are the first instance of the judicial system , which means they are the person you go to when you initiate a lawsuit.

Their job is to issue rulings based on the law and verifiable facts. According to the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) , judges must guarantee justice in an impartial and well-founded manner.

The judges are responsible for reviewing the decisions of the judges. That is, if any party disagrees with a judge's ruling, they can appeal, and that's where the judges come in.

According to former minister Arturo Zaldívar , magistrates are part of specialized, collegiate courts. They analyze whether the judges' rulings were correct and have the power to modify or ratify them. They represent a second chance at justice.

The justices are members of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation , the highest court in the country . They make decisions on the most important cases, such as human rights issues, the constitutionality of laws, or disputes between branches of government.

The instruments they use to resolve these issues are amparo trials, constitutional disputes , and unconstitutionality actions . Their role is important because their work directly protects the rights of all citizens.

In 2025, citizens will directly elect the people who will fill these positions within the Judicial Branch . They will vote for 64 ministers , more than 1,600 magistrates , and 1,570 district judges , among other positions.

To learn about all the candidates and their careers, the National Electoral Institute (INE) has made available the "Get to Know Them" system, available through the website https://candidaturaspoderjudicial.ine.mx/

Judicial elections will be held nationwide on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Citizens will be able to go to the polls to cast their votes from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This time, there will be no quick count, so official results will be announced later.

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