We are pleased to be able to present this timely and expert dialog on the emerging reform ofMexico’s criminal justice system, a topic widely of concern to the lawyers who comprise ourMexico Committee, as well as to a broader public in Mexico, the United States and elsewhere inthe world.
Look in the near future for the next issue of our newsletter, prepared with the cooperation ofour colleagues in the Barra Mexicana. It will feature short and timely articles by experts inMexican law in a variety of topics of general interest to practicing lawyers.
We welcome submittals to be considered for publication in our newsletter. We seek shortupdates on current topics of interest to our membership of American, Mexican and otherlawyers whose practices relate to Mexico and Mexican law.
In particular, we are aware of the Mexican lawyers who each year undertake advanced training inthe United States in LLM programs offered by leading American law schools. Our MexicoCommittee members who collaborate on the production of the newsletter welcome theopportunity to collaborate with such lawyers in achieving a short publication in our newsletter inEnglish on a topic or development of Mexican law of current interest. Submittals of currentdevelopments on the order of 1000 words can be addressed to the Chief Editor at the emailaddress below.
T he Mexico Committee is involved with the full spectrum of U.S.-Mexican legal issues aswell as various aspects of internal Mexican law. This year the Committee is planning
and sponsoring a series of programs, principally at the spring and fall meetings of the ABA’sInternational Law Section, but also in venues of interest in both the United States and inMexico. The Committee continues to strengthen its relationships with the Mexican bar andwith other Mexican legal institutions and organizations. With this issue of MEXICO
UPDATE, the Committee renews its outreach to its membership to keep it abreast of importantdevelopments in Mexican law. A further current initiative of the Mexico Committee is tomonitor developments in Mexico's competition law.
The Mexico Committee's membership is its most important asset. We encourage all Committeemembers to be involved in Committee activities and to freely communicate their suggestions andideas.
U p c o m i n g E v e n t s — S a v e t h e D a t e
M a r c h 1 2 : M e x i c oCommittee’s Monthly Call
March 16: 29th AnnualSection General CounselsA p p r e c i a t i o n D i n n e r ,Washington, DC
April 13-17: ABA Section ofInternational Law SpringMeeting, New York, NY
Please visit the ABA Sectionof International Law for moree v e n t s a t : h t t p : / /www.abane t .or g/ in t l aw/
February 3-9: ABA MidyearMeeting, Orlando FL
February 11: SIL’s How ToUse Mediation Effectively inI n t e r n a t i o n a l B u s i n e s sDisputes, Paris, France
F e b r u a r y 1 2 : M e x i c oCommittee’s Monthly Call
February 25-27: Global LegalS k i l l s C o n f e r e n c e V ,M o n t e r r e y , M e x i c o(www.fldm.edu.mx/glsv.htm)The Mexico Committee is
organizing a Committeemeeting at the end of theConference. Committeemembers in the Monterreyarea who would like to assistare invited to contact MexicoC o m m i t t e e v i c e - c h a i rL e s l i e G l i c k([email protected])
February 28-March 3: ThePitfalls of Cross-BorderTransactions and LitigationRisks, Park City, UT
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Committee Leadership2009-2010
Patrick del DucaCo-Chair
Alejandro SuárezCo-Chair
Francisco J. CortinaVice-Chair
Jorge E. FragosoVice-Chair
Leslie Alan GlickVice-Chair
Alonso González VillalobosVice-Chair
Marco Tulio Montañés-RumayorVice-Chair
Carlos SugichVice-Chair
Jonathan M. MillerSenior Advisor
DISCLAIMER
The materials and information inthis newsletter do not constitutelegal advice. MEXICO UPDATE is apublication that is made availablesolely for informational purposesand should not be considered legaladvice. The opinions andcomments in MEXICO UPDATE areresponsibility solely of eachauthor/contributor and do notnecessarily reflect the view of theABA, its Section of InternationalLaw or the Mexico Committee.
C o n t r i b u t o r s f o r t h i sC o n t r i b u t o r s f o r t h i sC o n t r i b u t o r s f o r t h i se d i t i o n :e d i t i o n :e d i t i o n :
DISCLAIMER: The materials and information in this newsletter do notconstitute legal advice. MEXICO UPDATE is a publication made available solelyfor informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice. Theopinions and comments in MEXICO UPDATE are those of its contributors anddo not necessarily reflect any opinion of the ABA, their respective firms or theeditors.
MM E X I C OE X I C O UU P D A T EP D A T E
A n t i t r u s t Up d a t eA n t i t r u s t Up d a t eA n t i t r u s t Up d a t e
Manuel Caloca GonzálezProfessor & Director, Centro para el Desarrollo de la Abogacía en elLitigio Oral (CEDALIT)Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, CampusMonterreyTel.: +(81) 83 58 20 00, ext. [email protected]
Patrick Del DucaZuber & Taillieu LLP10866 Wilshire Blvd. #300Los Angeles, CA 90024Tel.: +(1) 310 [email protected]
Francisco Fuentes-OstosMijares, Angoitia, Cortés y Fuentes, S.C.Montes Urales #505 Tercer PisoLomas de Chapultepec11000 - México, D.F.Tel.: +(52) 55 52 01 74 [email protected]
Leslie Alan GlickPorter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP1919 Pennsylvania Ave., NWSuite 500Washington, DC 20006-3434Tel.: 202-778-3022Fax: [email protected]
René Christian Licona VázquezTorres Lindsey Abogados, S.C.Batallón de San Patricio #109,Piso 7º, Ofna. 704 Col. Valle Oriente66260 San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo LeónTel.: +52 (81) [email protected]
Layda Negrete SansoresUniversity of California, BerkeleyTel.: +(1) 510 [email protected]
Recent dominance rulingsagainst Telmex.
Early in 2008, the MexicanAnt i t r u s t Commis s ion( C o f e c o ) s t a r t e dinvestigations to ascertain iftelecom operators weredomin an t on ce r t a intelecommunications services,and if so, empower theregulator (Ministry ofTelecommunications or SCT)to impose specific regulationswith respect to tariffs, qualityof service and information.
As a result of suchinvestigation, mid of 2008,Cofeco issued preliminaryf i n d i n g s ( d i c t a m e n e spreliminares), ruling (on apreliminary basis) that certaintelecom operators weredominant in the followingr e l e v a n t s e r v i c e s :( i ) t e r m i n a t i o n(interconnection) of callsmade as part of the nationaland international calling partypays system; (ii) local voice,(iii) wholesale leasing of local,long distance, interconnectiona n d b o r d e r c r o s s i n gtransmission circuits or lines;(iv) fixed local and longdistance voice termination;( v ) w h o l e s a l e v o i c eorigination provided by localfix operators; and (vi) voicelocal transit provided by localfix operators.
In June of 2009, Cofecoissued its first definitive ruling( r e s o l u c i ó n d e f i n i t i v a ) ,confirming that Teléfonos deMéxico, S.A.B. de C.V.(Telmex) has a dominant
position in voice local transitservices in 191 areas of localtelephony services.
Also in June of 2009,Telmex was declareddominant by Cofeco in thewholesale leasing of local (97markets), long distance andinterconnection dedicatedtransmission lines. Telmexwas acquitted in thewholesale leasing of borderc r o s s i n g d e d i c a t e dtransmission lines.
Early in October 2009,Cofeco issued anotherdefinitive ruling declaringTelmex dominant in therelevant service of wholesalevoice origination provided tolong distance operators bylocal fix operators.
Cofeco’s definitive rulingson the other three relevantservices ((i) termination(interconnection) of callsmade as part of the nationaland international callingparty pays system; (ii) localvoice, and (iii) fixed local andlon g d i s t a nc e v o i c etermination) are st i l lpending.
We are of the view that if thedecision stands after beingchallenged in court, priceceilings for Telmex can beexpected.
Francisco Fuentes-Ostos(Mijares, Angoitia, Cortésy F u e n t e s , S . C . )O c t o b e r 2 0 0 9Lic. Fuentes leads theCommittee’s working groupon Mexican competition law.
DISCLAIMER: The materials and information in this newsletter do not constitute legal advice. MEXICO UPDATE is a publication made available solely for informationalpurposes and should not be considered legal advice. The opinions and comments in MEXICO UPDATE are those of its contributors and do not necessarily reflect anyopinion of the ABA, their respective firms or the editors.
Q: Last week, Mexico increased tariffs on 90 US products in retaliation for a move by the US that ended a pilot program allowing
some Mexican truck drivers access to US roads. Was Mexico’s reaction justified and proportionate? What was its strategy in choosing
which tariffs to raise? Can US and Mexican officials sort out a compromise and what would such a plan look like?
Is Mexico’s Decision to Hike Tariffs on U.S. Goods Justified?Is Mexico’s Decision to Hike Tariffs on U.S. Goods Justified?Is Mexico’s Decision to Hike Tariffs on U.S. Goods Justified?
Experts on Mexican criminal procedure consider theprosecution of criminal misconduct alleged in
connection with operation of a business. Working fromthe roles of prosecutor, defense attorney and judge, theyconsider the matter from the determination of whetherto file charges, through trial and appeals, all withcomparative commentary. Panelists focus on the newfederal constitutional mandate for adoption ofadversarial criminal procedures and the presentachievements of select Mexican states that have ledimplementation of these reforms.
The program provides essential information to thosewho would advise companies and their executives on
conduct of business in Mexico, as well grounding tolawyers concerned with operation of the criminal justicesystem and its support for human rights. In addition toUS lawyers interested in greater understanding of issuespertinent to advising US clients conducting business inMexico, the program is intended to assist Mexicanlawyers interested to understand the pending reforms ofcriminal procedure in Mexico.
The Mexico Committee of the American BarAssociation’s International Law Section organized theprogram, with co-sponsorship by The World JusticeProject, Appleseed Mexico, and the ABA Rule of LawInitiative.
Patrick Del DucaMexico Committee,Co-ChairZuber & Taillieu LLP10866 Wilshire Blvd. #300Los Angeles, CA 90024Tel.: (310) [email protected]
Marco Tulio Montañés-RumayorMexico CommitteeVice-ChairThe World Bank Group1818 H Street, NWWashington, DC 20433Tel.: (202) [email protected]
René C. Licona VázquezTorres AbogadosAve. Batallón de San Patricio No. 109,Séptimo Piso Suite 704Col. Valle Oriente, C.P. 66260San Pedro Garza García, NLMéxicoTel.: +52 (81) 83 63 74 [email protected]
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MM E X I C OE X I C O UU P D A T EP D A T E
DISCLAIMER: The materials and information in this newsletter do not constitute legal advice. MEXICO UPDATE is a publication made available solely for informationalpurposes and should not be considered legal advice. The opinions and comments in MEXICO UPDATE are those of its contributors and do not necessarily reflect anyopinion of the ABA, their respective firms or the editors.
M e x i c o ’ s I n t r o d u c t i o n o f A d v e r s a r i a l C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e :M e x i c o ’ s I n t r o d u c t i o n o f A d v e r s a r i a l C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e :M e x i c o ’ s I n t r o d u c t i o n o f A d v e r s a r i a l C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e :a J u d i c i a l E a r t h q u a k ea J u d i c i a l E a r t h q u a k ea J u d i c i a l E a r t h q u a k e
P r o p e l l e d b y C o n s t i t u t i o n a l A m e n d m e n tP r o p e l l e d b y C o n s t i t u t i o n a l A m e n d m e n tP r o p e l l e d b y C o n s t i t u t i o n a l A m e n d m e n tProgram presented at the Fall 2009 meeting
of theInternational Law Section of the American Bar Association
Thursday, October 29, 2009, 10:30–noonEden Roc Hotel, Miami Beach
P r o g r a m D e s c r i p t i o n :
P r o g r a m C h a i r s :
R e c o m m e n d e d F u r t h e r R e a d i n g :P. Del Duca, W. Heimann-Nunes and D. Rodríguez-Bravo, Criminal Exposure for Civil Wrongs in Foreign Countries,
IN-PARK MAGAZINE (June/July 2009), available at www.inparkmagazine.com/issues/26/law.pdf.C.M. Bradley (ed.), Criminal Procedure: A Worldwide Study, Carolina Academic Press §10.I, 351-52, § 10.A 372,
§10.B.1 380-82 (2d ed. 2007)M. Roig-Franzia, Mexico Revises Its Justice System, WASHINGTON POST, June 18, 2008L.M. Márquez-Carrasquillo and D.A. Shirk, State Level Justice Reform Initiatives in Mexico, BORDER BRIEF,
C r i m i n a l i z a t i o n o f a c i v i l s u i tC r i m i n a l i z a t i o n o f a c i v i l s u i tC r i m i n a l i z a t i o n o f a c i v i l s u i tprepared by
Lic. René C. Licona Vázquez
Creditor sued Debtor in a Mexican federal court to collect a debt of US$100,000 evidenced by a promissory note.Debtor’s business is to assemble refrigerators and sell them to wholesalers. Upon service of process, Debtoragreed to pay within a month, but lacking immediate liquidity, it designated goods to be seized. Debtor asked thecourt appointed clerk to seize goods that Debtor owned with a value of up to US$110,000 to guarantee paymentof the principal amount due, plus accrued interest. The goods designated by Debtor were a lot of 11,000refrigerators. Because Creditor could not take possession of 11,000 refrigerators, it left the seized property underDebtor’s guardianship. The appointed guardian of the 11,000 refrigerators was Debtor’s principal owner.
One month later Wholesaler requested Debtor to deliver the 10,000 refrigerators for which Wholesaler had paidDebtor on placing an order two months earlier. Because Debtor then believed it had generated sufficient cash topay Debtor in full, it used 10,000 of the 11,000 seized refrigerators to satisfy the obligation to Wholesaler.
Creditor then demanded the civil court to order seizure of alternate goods. Creditor also filed a complaint with thelocal prosecution office against Debtor’s principal owner for embezzlement (abuso de confianza) of 10,000 of the11,000 refrigerators. Creditor’s main evidence to file the criminal complaint is the civil court clerk’s service ofprocess certificate by which the clerk seized Debtor’s property in favor of Creditor, but leaving it under theowner’s guardianship. Creditor seeks more money than the original suit had sought now that a criminal complaintis pending against Debtor.
Mr. Amerena is a Mexican lawyer who focuses hispractice as a criminal defense attorney in the financialsector, including alleged offenses involving banking andthe stock market, tax evasion and related matters, moneylaundering (unconnected to organized crime), whitecollar matters, crimes related to public service andcorruption, as well as international extraditionprocedures. He teaches law in the law department ofthe Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. AmongMr. Amerena’s matters that have received mediaattention is the representation of Duane “Dog”Chapman, an American bounty hunter, in the resolutionof Mexican charges following his apprehension inMexico of a fugitive from justice in the United States.
Mr. Caloca is Director of the Lawyering Center forTrial Advocacy, opened with US-AID sponsorship atthe Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores deMonterrey (ITESM) in Monterrey, Mexico. Throughthe Center he has organized and executed trial advocacytraining programs, taught Trial Advocacy, andadministered a scholarship award program to undertakeLLM study in Trial Advocacy in the United States underUS-AID sponsorship. He is a 1999 graduate in law ofthe Universidad de Guadalajara, and subsequentlyearned Master of laws degrees in InternationalCommerce and Trade Law from ITESM in Monterrey(2003), International Trade Law and Policy from TheUniversity of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law(2004), and with focus on Trial Advocacy fromSouthwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles,California (2008).
Mr. Del Duca practices law from Los Angeles as apartner of Zuber & Taillieu LLP, and serves as anadjunct professor at UCLA, currently teachingInternational Finance. He is broadly experienced inlegal structuring, negotiation and documentation ofcross-border finance, infrastructure development, andcommercial matters. He serves as Co-Chair of theMexico Committee of the ABA’s International LawSection and is a member of the Pacific Council onInternational Policy as well as of the Graduate Groupfor the International Commercial Law LL.M. at UCDavis. His publications that address Mexico includeMexico’s Secured Lending Reforms, 33 UNIFORM
COMMERCIAL CODE LAW JOURNAL 225 (2000 co-
authored with R. Zamora), The Rule of Law: Mexico'sApproach to Expropriation Disputes in the Face of InvestmentGlobalization, 51 UCLA LAW REVIEW 35 (2003), and ab o o k — C H O O S I N G T H E L A N G U A G E O F
TRANSNATIONAL DEALS: PRACTICALITIES, POLICY
AND LAW REFORM, forthcoming from the AmericanBar Association in spring 2010. It addresses the role oflanguage in harmonizing commercial and financial law,plus how requirements to use official languages affectparty structuring of cross-border transactions.
Ms. Negrete is an award-winning documentary film-maker addressing Mexico’s criminal justice system, and adoctoral candidate in the PhD Public Policy program atthe University of California, Berkeley, where she earneda masters in Public Policy from Boalt Hall School ofLaw. Ms. Negrete received a Bachelor’s Degree in Lawwith Highest Honors from Instituto TecnológicoAutónomo de México (ITAM). From 1999 through2006 she was a professor of law at CIDE (Centro deInvestigación y Docencia Económicas), a leading centerin Mexico City of social science teaching and research.There she developed Mexico’s fifth-ranked law program,an interdisciplinary program to train lawyers usingproblem-based teaching and cases in lieu of rotememorization. At CIDE she conducted research andtaught courses in quantitative methods and judicialaccountability. She has served as a draftsperson of keylegislative and constitutional reforms pertaining tojudicial independence in Mexico. She has served as aclerk for Presiding Justice Shmill Ordóñez of Mexico’sSupreme Court and for District Court Judge CarlosRonzon Sevilla of Mexico’s 9th Federal District Court.
With Roberto Hernández, Ms. Negrete is the producerof a prize-winning, just-released documentary film,PRESUNTO CULPABLE (Presumed Guilty), and of thedocumentary film short subject EL TÚNEL (TheTunnel). She is the author or co-author of variouspublications on judicial administration and the criminaljustice system in Mexico and a pioneer in the conduct ofempirical research of legal institutions in Mexico. Herinterests include the development of statistical indicatorsfor criminal justice institutions and the study ofperceptions of fairness in criminal justice processes.
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MM E X I C OE X I C O UU P D A T EP D A T EB i o g r a p h i e s o f p a r t i c i p a n t s :
Patrick Del Duca: Welcome. This is the programMexico’s Introduction of Adversarial Criminal Procedure: AJudicial Earthquake propelled by Constitutional Amendment.
I am Patrick Del Duca, co-chair of the Mexico LawCommittee of the American Bar Association’s Sectionof International Law. I start by thanking my programchairs Marco Tulio Montañés-Rumayor and RenéLicona Vázquez for their help in organizing thisprogram. Southwestern Law School is also worthy ofspecial recognition. Our committee Senior AdvisorProfessor Jonathan Miller and his colleague ProfessorLutz, each of Southwestern Law School (and ProfessorLutz a former chair of the Section of International Law),have been very helpful in providing us guidance and inassuring the quality of this panel and in particular theparticipation ofo u r p a n e l i s tManuel Calocawho is an alumnusof the uniquep r o g r a m a tSouthwestern LawSchool providingadvanced trainingon oral advocacyand criminal procedure in Mexico.
The materials for this program include a translation ofthe significant and lengthy 2008 constitutionalamendment of the Mexican federal constitution thatprovides for reform of Mexico’s criminal procedure.Among other things, the amendment provides that:
“The criminal process will be accusatory and oral. It willbe governed by the principles of publicity, contradiction,concentration, continuity and immediacy.”
This amendment builds on something that began at thelevel of Mexico’s states. Mexico is a federal countrycomprised of thirty-one states and its Federal District.Various of these federal entities have for some timebegun to explore the process of reform of criminalprocedure. The federal constitutional amendmentmandates within a window of eight years from itseffective date that this reform be applied on anationwide basis. In addition to providing an overview
of the mandated reform, we seek to leave the thoughtthat criminal procedure is important not only for thefunctioning of the criminal justice system, but also hasmany broader ramifications in Mexican society, not theleast of which is its significance for commercialtransactions. To bring that out, we will work through acase that involves a commercial dispute that results incriminal proceedings.
Before introducing that case, I briefly introduce ourpanelists. I am honored to be in the presence of threeexcellent Mexican lawyers, each with experience andseasoning in the fields of criminal law and criminalprocedure. Manuel Caloca González is professor anddirector of a center at ITESM, the Instituto Tecnológicode Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. The center that
h e d i r e c t o r saddresses thedevelopment ofthe skills that arenecessary for thisnew world of oraladvocacy that ise m e r g i n g i nMexican criminalp r o c e d u r e .
Eduardo Amerena Minvielle, practicing from MexicoCity, is a criminal defense lawyer. He has beenassociated with a number of high profile cases that havepressed the functioning of the criminal justice system inMexico and that have received media attention. Oneconcerned an American who went to Mexico seeking tobring into custody a fugitive from American justice andin so doing ran afoul of the Mexican authorities. Thatwas the case of Dog the Bounty Hunter. LaydaNegrete Sansores is an expert in Mexican criminal law.She has taught and conducted academic research inMexico in the areas of criminal law and criminalprocedure. She also knows how to use a camera. She isthe co-producer of her second documentary film,Presunto Culpable [Presumed Guilty] which is just out andbeginning to win prizes internationally on the filmfestival circuit. It is a hard, honest look at the Mexicancriminal justice system. I am hopeful that at a futureAmerican Bar Association meeting we will have herpermission and blessing to showcase that documentary
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“The criminal process will beaccusatory and oral. It will begoverned by the principles of publicity,contradic t ion , concentra t ion ,continuity and immediacy.”
T r a n s c r i p t i o n : A d v e r s a r i a l C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e — P a n e l D i s c u s s i o n
Having laid out why the right experts are with us today,I would like to briefly introduce our case. As we workthrough our case, our panelists will play the roles ofjudge, prosecutor and criminal defense lawyer. ManuelCaloca has agreed to play the role of judge, LaydaNegrete the role of defense lawyer, and we have thegreat fun of having Eduardo Amerena, in real life acriminal defense lawyer, to play the role of theprosecutor.
Our case is a rather ordinary commercial situation thatoccurs with frequency. Our program co-chair RenéLicona, also an alumnus of the Southwestern LawSchool program, developed this case. There is a creditorand a debtor, a business organized under Mexican law.The creditor brings a lawsuit in Mexico to collect a debtof US$100,000. It is a straightforward lawsuit. Thedebtor has signed a promissory note. The creditorpresents that note to justify the claim. The debtor doesnot contest that the money is owed. Instead, the debtorresponds by offering to designate inventory, in theinstant case a lot of refrigerators, to assure payment ofthe claim. The refrigerators are designated as theproperty that eventually can be liquidated to pay thedebtor. The owner of the business steps up to takecustody of the refrigerators to assure the court and thecreditor that the refrigerators will be available forauction to produce the cash.
In the meantime, the business has a standing order froma customer. The business uses the refrigerators tosatisfy the order. Initially, there were 11,000refrigerators held to satisfy the debt. 10,000 of thoserefrigerators go to the customer. They are gone. Thewholesale customer sells them to individual consumers,and they are not longer available to the creditor of thebusiness.
So, the creditor goes to the court and says “your honorthis is terrible, the debtor and its owner have donesomething that they should not have done. Please orderseizure of alternative and additional goods.” Thecreditor does something else as well. It goes to theprosecutor’s office, known in Mexico as the ministeriopublico, were it files a complaint. The essential elements
of the complaint are fraud, embezzlement, theft andabuso de confianza, i.e. that the debtor and its ownermisappropriated the 10,000 refrigerators. At that pointthe business and the business owner in what they hadpreviously thought was simply a commercial dispute,instead finds themselves the objects of criminalproceedings.
As we work through this situation, our panelists willspeak to how things unfold today and also to how theymight function under the reform. The situation isuncertain because the reform has been underway in anumber of Mexican states for a while, but not for allsubject matters and certainly not in all states. Since thedate of the constitutional amendment in 2008, there is anational mandate to complete the reform throughoutMexico. However, the constitutional deadline for its fullimplementation is a number of years away, namely in2016. In the meantime, there are considerable questionsabout how and at what pace the reform will proceed.
We will start with our prosecutor. Eduardo, I ask you toimagine that the very upset creditor presents itselfbefore you with this story. How do you respond?
Eduardo Amerena: First, I thank you for inviting ushere to this panel. I am pleased to have this opportunityto comment the 2008 constitutional amendment fromthe perspective of a prosecutor. I start by putting intocontext the differences between the prosecutorialsystems in the United States and Mexico.
It is perceived that our system is an inquisitorial systemby nature. The reality, however, is that it is not. OurConstitution of 1917 is a consequence of the MexicanRevolution that began in 1910. The drafters of theConstitution of 1917 sought to institute an adversarialsystem of criminal prosecution. Indeed, the 1917Constitution specifies that the roles of investigating,prosecuting and accusing a person are divided from thejudicial branch. The removal of these responsibilitiesfrom the judiciary is the essence of an adversarialprocess. But, there is a flaw.
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It is perceived that our system is aninquisitorial system by nature. Thereality, however, is that it is not.
Our case is a rather ordinary commercialsituation that occurs with frequency.
What was the flaw in our Constitution with which wehave been living up to the present? In nineteenthcentury Mexico, the first century of our country’sindependence from Spanish rule, our countrymaintained an inquisitorial procedure in which onejudge, called the judge of instruction, investigated,accused, tried and sentenced the accused. It was aformalistic, secret, hermetic, all written, allrecorded process in which the defendant had novoice. Then came the revolution of 1910 andthe opportunity for a dramatic break from theprior regime. We had the opportunity for a newconstitution. The drafters of that constitutiontried to break free of that inquisitorial process, toestablish an adversarial process.
What was the flaw? The drafters of the 1917Constitution gave too much in the way of strength andattributions to the ministerio publico, which is theprosecutor. The attributes of the ministerio publico arequite amazing to a lawyer grounded in the system ofcriminal procedure that prevails in the United States.The ministerio publico has total control of the process. Itconducts the investigation, it directs the police, and ithas the power as a prosecutorial body to attestauthoritatively to facts and documents. This means thatif the ministerio publico attests in the record that a personhas a facial scar, that person has a scar, whether or notin the real word this is in fact so. With its power toattest to facts and documents and its total authority overthe investigation, the ministerio publico is de facto a part ofthe executive branch of government. In consequence ofthis position, the ministerio publico conducts itsinvestigations of crimes through a procedure known asthe “Previous Investigation” that is in reality totally
inquisitorial in nature.
To speak with specificity towhat would happen at thebeginning of this case, theclaimant would file a criminal
claim before a clerk. It would take about a week for theclaim to reach the desk of federal Public Minister to beassigned to handle this case. The federal Public Ministerwould open a file and issue a citation to the claimant inorder to ratify the complaint. You will be bored with allthe details that I might recite. This is meant to beunderstood as a tortuous procedure, and it is.
Patrick Del Duca: Is it possible for the Public Ministerto ignore the filing of the claimant?
Eduardo Amerena: One way to understand thedistinction in adversarial and inquisitorial procedures isto appreciate that the inquisitorial procedures aregoverned by a principle of legality, whereas adversarialprocedures are governed by a principle of opportunity.What does this mean as applied to the instant case? InMexico the ministerio publico is a conduit for theapplication of criminal law. A Public Minister has theobligation to pursue the case to its conclusion no matterwhat happens. In an adversarial system, there would notbe such an obligation to pursue a matter to itsconclusion. The adversarial procedure contemplated tobe instituted by the federal constitutional amendmentwould allow for criteria of opportunity to be consideredby the prosecutor’s office.
Patrick Del Duca: Once the victim files acomplaint, under the old system the PublicMinister must proceed if the victim presentsdocuments to establish the minimumelements of the offense. Under the newsystem, the Public Minister might determinethat it has other priorities?
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What was the flaw? The drafters of the 1917 Constitutiongave too much in the way of strength and attributions tothe ministerio publico, which is the prosecutor.
The ministerio publico has total control ofthe process. It conducts the investigation, itdirects the police, and it has the power as aprosecutorial body to attest authoritativelyto facts and documents.
A Public Minister has the obligation to pursuethe case to its conclusion no matter whathappens. In an adversarial system, therewould not be such an obligation to pursue amatter to its conclusion.
Eduardo Amerena: There is as yet no updated FederalCode of Criminal Procedure to conform to, andimplement, the federal constitutional amendment.There is a draft that the federal government ispromoting, developed through the national commissionof supreme courts (CONATRIB). Under that project,there are seven criteria of opportunity. At the state levelwhere the reform has already moved forward, there arevarious types of criteria for the exercise of discretionthat define the powers of the prosecutor.
Layda Negrete: In the currently applicable criminalprocedure, the prosecutor’s role is fundamental. I amfond of statistics and empirical work to achieve a visionof the actors in action. With the benefit of such aperspective, the prosecutors in Mexico appear to act aslow level bureaucrats. Once a criminal procedurecommences, the prosecutors have a case load that theycan manage only in three ways. One is to chargesomeone. Another is to dismiss the case, by closing it inreliance on a conclusion that no crime occurred. Thethird one is to keep the case alive forever.
In a way there is a culture in these offices thatprosecutors must charge as many cases as possible. Ihave seen that in some cases they even have chargingquotas. So for example, a prosecutor would have toreach 15 cases every 15 days, such that roughly theprosecutor would need to charge oneaccused per day in order to avoiddoubling the rate of charges until reachingthe quota. So, a consequence of a systemthat does not allow a prosecutordiscretion in the exercise of judgmentabout which cases to pursue and not topursue, is to make the prosecutor abureaucrat burdened with de facto rulesthat require charging of as many people aspossible. The instant case is a beautiful one for theprosecutor because the creditor has clearly identified theaccused with its address and name. There is no needeven to send a detective to find the bad guy.
Patrick Del Duca: Does it matter to the defenselawyer where the victim initiates the case? Once theconstitutional reform is fully implemented, there mightbe some uniformity. However, right now, the defenselawyer would not have much at this stage to say to thePublic Minister in most of Mexico, except maybe insome Mexican states where reform was implementedeven prior to the constitutional amendment.
Eduardo Amerena: The federal constitutionalamendment is not self implementing.Several states, namely the states ofChihuahua, Durango, Hidalgo, Mexico,Morelos, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca andZacatecas, have been pro-active in updatingtheir legislation and working to reform their
institutions even prior to the constitutional amendment.Because of the economic prominence of these states,there is a great probability that this new system might bea factor in perhaps nine out of ten cases like the one thatwe are analyzing.
Patrick Del Duca: What does the defense lawyer haveto say at this early stage of the proceedings?
Layda Negrete: This is a secret procedure started bythe creditor. Should the defense lawyer have any inklingof the existence of the procedure, a first question of thedefense lawyer is how did the defense lawyer learn aboutthe procedure? Likely, it would be directly from thecreditor. This would be a strategy to intimidate thedefense lawyer’s client.
Patrick Del Duca: If you do not pay me, your clientwill go to jail.
Layda Negrete: That is the threat. It is probably acreditor strategy that the debtor would know this ishappening and thus try to approach the ministerio publico.
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Once a criminal procedure commences, theprosecutors have a case load that they canmanage only in three ways.
Several states, namely the states of Chihuahua,Durango, Hidalgo, Mexico, Morelos, NuevoLeon, Oaxaca and Zacatecas, have been pro-active in updating their legislation andworking to reform their institutions even priorto the constitutional amendment.
Eduardo Amerena: The prosecutor could subpoenathe debtor. The prosecutor could receive the claim, is-sue an order to the judge to send a certified copy of thecivil suit to the debtor and a certification that the refrig-erators had been sequestered. As a prosecutor, I couldsubpoena the seller and the purchaser of the refrigera-tors to obtain an accounting of the refrigerators. Also,as a prosecutor, I would refer the matter to my own of-ficial accountants to obtain their official expert opinionconfirming the financial loss.
Patrick Del Duca: The creditor must be thinking:“This is wonderful, it is all free. The Public Minister isaccomplishing my collection effort for me.”
Manuel Caloca: But to be honest, nobody is going toundertake all those actions gratuitously. You pay for theprosecutor; he is like a thief. If someone is botheringme, I go to the Public Minister who will not act to set adate or accomplish a ratification unless I pay, for exam-ple 3000 pesos.
Patrick Del Duca: In this case the amount claimed tobe due is US$100,000 and 10,000 refrigerators are at is-sue. Is there a rate schedule? What would be the properamount corresponding to a claim involving US$100,000and 10,000 refrigerators.
Eduardo Amerena: We are subject to the anticorrup-tion laws, and we cannot comment.
Patrick Del Duca: What we are discussing is some-thing unlawful in Mexico, prohibited by Mexican law?Right?
Layda Negrete: It is super important to discuss this.
Eduardo Amerena: The origin of corruption is theinquisitorial system. The nature of the preliminary in-vestigation is that it is totally secret and hermetic, for-malistic and with total power of the Public Ministry toattest facts and documents. These characteristics are theantithesis of an adversarial procedure.
What are the elements of corruption? First, control of
information. The prosecution has no obligation tomake available to the accused the registries and files ofthe investigation. Accordingly, for the accused to evenhave a copy of the investigative file is associated withsome form of corruption. Second, there are no formaleducational requirements to initiate and carry forward acareer in the prosecutor’s office. Some of the most dan-gerous people in the system are not lawyers. Third,there are the friends of the Public Ministry. In the at-mosphere of secrecy, the accusation can evolve or besolved without anyone knowing.
There is a publicity principle that is characteristic of ad-versarial procedure. It is the transparency of the process
that will cause the prosecutor’s office to move awayfrom the culture of quotas. Under the current inquisito-rial practices of the Public Ministry, what the PublicMinistry offers society is only and exclusively the indict-ment, the pressing of charges and the number of arrestwarrants obtained. In the present system the PublicMinistry does not know about, and indeed does not careabout, the ultimate rate of convictions.
Patrick Del Duca: All of this is very scary to a defen-dant. So I come back to the defense lawyer, when theclient contacts the defense lawyer to report that it is inthe midst of a dispute with a creditor that might becomea criminal matter, what does the defense lawyer say?Get your affairs in order, pack your bags, you can expectto be incarcerated shortly?
Layda Negrete: That is a challenging question, whichEduardo Amerena may be best qualified to answer. De-fense lawyers see their role as being most important dur-ing the Public Ministry phase. It is challenging to vindi-cate your client’s interest in court or through an amparoproceeding. Accordingly, the preliminary investigationphase by the Public Ministry is a critical moment. Thereis some degree of maneuvering because the system iscorrupt, and I am very glad that we are talking about thisopenly.
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The origin of corruption is the inquisitorialsystem. . . . What are the elements of corruption?
The principal challenge for the reform is not approvinga new set of rules for procedure. Rather it is how tomanage a set of institutions that are completely flawed.Although the inquisitorial premise of the current systemwould maintain that the Public Ministry has nodiscretionary power, it does have discretionary powers.The Public Ministry does have different ways ofhandling cases. So if you give money, you may obtainthat another person is in charge. But if you give money,you may a lso eludedischarges. From anecdotalevidence, some lawyers tellme that there is almost abidding process around whois giving the most money toobtain the best result fortheir client.
Eduardo Amerena: I basically agree, but the principleissues may not in fact be the issue of money as we haveso far discussed it. Rather, two other aspects may be theprincipal issues.
The first is celerity. That is, one Public Minister may beinvestigating 100 to 120 cases at any given moment.The filing process takes 60 to 70% of the minister’stime. The minister tries to get everything just right. Ihave heard that sometimes what money can do is tobump a file to the top of the stack. In severalcases where the interpretation of the law couldbe gray, it is a way to push an agenda.
A second principal concern is the kind ofjustice given to an accused person without alawyer. Persons without access to a lawyerreceive a very different kind of justice. For example, tenyears ago I worked for the homicide task force inMexico City. I was working for the district attorney’soffice. The accused persons were often young men, forexample an 18 year old charged with killing anotheryoungster. In the context of deposing them, we would
ask for the appointment of a publicdefender. In comes the public defender,and he is asleep and his client is facing amurder charge. I wake up the defenseattorney, because after all I am at heart adefense attorney, and I say to him, “Heyyour client is facing a murder charge.” The
public defender says to his client, “Look a the timebuddy, just confess and let’s go home.” So that issometimes the quality of the defense in Mexico.
Part of the reform that the constitutional amendmentseeks to instigate and consolidate is a shift in beliefs andmind frames. What Mexico seeks is a system coherentwith democratic governance. Mexicans desire a PublicMinistry that seeks incarceration only as a last recourse.Nonetheless, there are a number of aspects of the
proposed reforms that remain indeterminate. Thereformed procedure, by de-emphasizing the screeningrole of the Public Ministry, may result in slower civilproceedings and, by depriving a collecting creditor ofthe leverage of Public Ministry investigation andcharging, render collection action more difficult. On theother hand, in the new system the victim will be able topress charges directly before a judge, without makingrecourse to the Public Minister. This may mean that itwill be even easier to criminalize commercial mattersmost of the time and for most of the cases.
Patrick Del Duca: Let me ask the defense lawyer aquestion about the judge. One thing I have not heardyou say is, “we would need to speak with the judgeabout this.” Is that because it is more important tospeak to the Public Minister?
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The principal challenge for the reform is notapproving a new set of rules for procedure.Rather it is how to manage a set of institutionsthat are completely flawed.
Part of the reform that the constitutional amendmentseeks to instigate and consolidate is a shift in beliefs andmind frames. What Mexico seeks is a system coherentwith democratic governance.
This may mean that it will be even easier tocriminalize commercial matters most of thetime and for most of the cases.
Layda Negrete: I think so. EduardoAmarena alluded to something quiteimportant when he mentioned the authorityof the Public Ministry to establish facts.Indeed, the facts found by the PublicMinistry in its written report of investigation bear apresumption of public faith and trust in a sense similarto the public faith and trust accorded acts reduced to apublic writing in front of a Mexican notary. It is sointeresting that in Mexico public investigations are not aprocedure or a process; rather, the investigation is a file.Once the file is released upon the bringing of charges bya prosecutor against the accused, that file is analogous toGospel. Once it is there in court, it cannot bequestioned.
Imagine this. If the accountant sent by the PublicMinister makes a determination, with that evidencealone the judge will render a conviction. There is noneed for the accountant to appear in court because thefile is the truth because it was sent by the PublicMinister. And, there is not even any need for the PublicMinister to appear in court. Accordingly, it is verytypical that those who produce the evidence neverappear in court. So there is no balance for the defense.Such evidence simply cannot be controverted.
In more than 90% of all cases that reach a trial, there is aconviction. This is the national rate in Mexico. We donot have plea bargaining. So as to everything that startslike the present case and reaches a trial, there is almostautomatically a conviction. Thus as a matter of simplestatistics, my job as a defense attorney is to seek NOT toreach the court ever. That is the main strategy.
Audience question: The matter proceeds, andthe Public Minister finishes the preparation ofthe file and transmits it to the court. Is the roleof the judge to approve everything that thePublic Minister affirms?
Manuel Caloca: As the defense attorney said,the judge simply affirms what the Public
Minister did, because the procedure before the PublicMinister is itself a proceeding. The Public Minister ineffect renders a judgment that asserts how to weigh theevidence. It explains the elements of the crime, so thejudge receives a form of judgment to be rendered.Accordingly, the judge can only follow the lead of thePublic Minister in real world cases such as the presentone. In homicide matters and other cases of highimpact, the judge may be persuaded to look morecritically at the evidence.
The new procedures will institute more meaningfulinvolvement of judges in the process of investigation,weighing of evidence, and sentencing. There will bethree levels of judicial intervention. The first level willbe in connection with the investigation that will take theplace of the “Previous Investigation”. In this first levelthe Public Minister will have to present the evidence to ajudge for a decision as to whether the elements tocharge the accused exist. Next there will be anintermediate phase where the evidence will be offered.
Finally there will be the trial andsentencing. Whereas in the current systemthe trial is simply a review of thedocumentation presented by the PublicMinistry, in the new system the judge canpressure the parties to reach an agreement.
In this kind of case the objective is not to punish thedebtor who may simply have made a mistake. In such acase the judge will push the parties to resolve the matterwith the assistance of a mediator. If the debtor agrees,the proceedings can be abbreviated and dismissed.
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It is so interesting that in Mexico publicinvestigations are not a procedure or aprocess; rather, the investigation is a file.
Thus as a matter of simple statistics, my job asa defense attorney is to seek NOT to reach thecourt ever. That is the main strategy.
The new procedures will institute moremeaningful involvement of judges in theprocess of investigation, weighing ofevidence, and sentencing. There will bethree levels of judicial intervention.
Patrick Del Duca: In the present system if the PublicMinister submits the file to the judge, would the adviceof the defense lawyer be to pay the debt?
Layda Negrete: No. This proceeding has a logic of itsown and there is very little to do. It will follow its owncourse.
Patrick Del Duca: What we have discussed is a horrorfor the debtor. Once the proceeding starts, there seemsto be no way to stop it. Even paying the debt will notstop it. There are some places in Mexico where thereform has already proceeded. Can we identify aspecific place in Mexico where this would be different?
Eduardo Amerena: But you could stop it.
Patrick Del Duca : How could you stop it?
Eduardo Amerena: Because the instant case involves afederal proceeding, the victim could issue a pardon, andthis would stop the criminal proceeding. However, inmany “non-federal” jurisdictions, such as the FederalDistrict (Mexico City) for example, the victim cannotstop the proceeding. The spirit of this is to avoidmaking the district attorney’s office a collection agency.The real risk to the accused, however, is associated withmaking bail. In Mexico City, one could be unable tomake bail for a period of time ranging from 72 hours tosix months.
Layda Negrete: Can you explain why sometimes thepardon of the victim matters, and other times it isirrelevant.
Eduardo Amerena: It is absolutely discretionary onthe part of the victim.
Patrick Del Duca: One thing a defense lawyer mightsay to a client, is contact the victim, offer to pay moneyto settle the debt, and ask for a pardon. This would betaken to the Public Minister jointly with a request todrop the matter.
Eduardo Amerena: Such a transaction is completelylegal as long as it is the amount of the debt.
Patrick Del Duca: plus interest?
Eduardo Amerena: The law does not oblige that thevictim receive interest to issue a pardon.
Patrick Del Duca: The amount here was US$100,000to start with. It would be ok for the victim to say, I willonly provide a pardon if I am paid that amount?
Eduardo Amerena: Absolutely.
Patrick Del Duca: And, would it be OK for the victimto say, the interest rate now is 5%, so now you have topay me that as well.
Layda Negrete: I know the hypothetical case is writtenas a federal case. But cases of this nature are mostlycommonly conducted in the state courts. EduardoAmerena was saying that in the federal case, no bailwould be allowed because it is a serious case as definedin the Federal Criminal Code.
Eduardo Amerena: In addition, the victim couldpardon the defendant only during the process ofPrevious Investigation. This is a warning by the plaintiffto the victim. If the plaintiff wants to resolve the matterwithout waiting for a year or a year and half untilsentencing, the victim/plaintiff has an incentive toresolve the matter with a pardon in exchange forpayment.
Layda Negrete: But the defendant could spend a yearto a year and a half in jail waiting for the resolution ofthe trial.
Eduardo Amerena: In Mexico City, yes.
Layda Negrete: So, the threat is enormous.
Eduardo Amerena: The threat is obviously veryimportant, but the amendment seeks to address it. Letus not forget the importance of the shift in beliefs thatmust be associated with implementation of theamendment. The prosecutor as an entity can be flawedfrom the beginning. In the present instance, it was thevictim that initially pled the case. But, the victim mightnot clearly see the case. So, the Public Minister wouldplead the case before the judicial branch on behalf ofthe community. The concern of the community is thatthe people feel protected. In Mexico, it works the otherway around. The Public Ministry represents the state. Itis not attempting to rebuild the social fabric, but ratherto perpetuate the state as a permanent institution. Thisis why the Public Ministry is so hard line. In the UnitedStates the prosecution is more flexible because itrepresents the people.
The amendment accordingly tries to take Mexico to thenext level of appreciation of community, regardless ofthe violence of the organized crime cartels, which is acompletely different topic.
Patrick Del Duca: What I am hearing about theamendment is that in view of Mexican federalism,where this case transpires makes a difference. It ifhappens in the Federal District there is one dynamic. Ifit were to happen in Monterrey, in the state of NuevoLeón, there would be a different dynamic.
Eduardo Amerena: That is right.
Layda Negrete: Chihuahua is a state that is a leader inthis reform, from before the constitutional amendment.There what would happen is that the prosecutor wouldtry to direct the case towards a negotiation. They call itthere “alternative mechanisms”. These are the kinds ofmechanisms that you would have in civil cases. In thestate of Chihuahua such mechanisms now exist in thecriminal sphere. A prosecutor would seek that theparties attempt to negotiate a resolution of their disputeand would suspend the civil and criminal proceedingsaccording to a contract that the parties would sign.
Eduardo Amerena: The instant case if brought in theFederal District (Mexico City) would be tried under thecurrent inquisitorially driven procedure. Instead, wereit to happen in Nuevo León, it would be under theadversarial procedure provided by the localstate legislation. In the hypothetical case, thefederal Public Ministry would conduct theinvestigation applying the Federal CriminalCode and the Federal Code of CriminalProcedure. But nine out of ten cases of thistype would ordinarily be handled by the stateauthorities under state law.
The federal offenses are defined in article 50 of theFederal Criminal Code. It is the codification of what isa federal offense.
Manuel Caloca: If this happened in Chihuahua orNuevo León with theinvestigation conducted by afederal Public Ministry, itwould go under theinquisitorial system into thef e d e r a l c o u r t s ,n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h eimplementation of thereform under state law forthis kind of offense. The
inconsistency of approach in state and federalproceedings would provide the basis for aconstitutional challenge through an amparo actionbecause of the inconsistency in the state and federalresults. The claim would be an equal protection claim.
Patrick Del Duca: In our time together I haveunderstood that the judge is very slow to becomeinvolved in the proceedings. But, I have also heard aword, a very important word in Mexican procedure,and that word is amparo—protection, which is a veryimportant institution of Mexican law. Let me askManuel Caloca in the role of the judge how amparomight become part of this situation.
Manuel Caloca: Amparo protects individuals againstthe unwarranted acts of authorities. In this case, therewould be a real constitutional claim under the writ ofamparo. The claim would arise if I live in a state thatgives me full adversarial rights, but the federal systemstill, notwithstanding the amendment of the nationalConstitution, works under the inquisitorial system. Anyeffort to apply to me a Federal Criminal Code that hadnot changed would in my view establish a validchallenge of the federal provisions because they do not
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In our time together I have understood that the judge isvery slow to become involved in the proceedings. But, Ihave also heard a word, a very important word inMexican procedure, and that word is amparo—protection, which is a very important institution ofMexican law.
The inconsistency of approach in state andfederal proceedings would provide the basisfor a constitutional challenge through anamparo action because of the inconsistencyin the state and federal results. The claimwould be an equal protection claim.
Eduardo Amerena; In the example, where the civilsuit is filed before a federal civil judge, the improper saleof the refrigerators creates a breach of the order of afederal authority, namely the order of the federal civiljudge that sequestered the refrigerators. There wouldaccordingly be jurisdiction of the federal Public Ministryto investigate and to receive the claim. This is not aroutine breach of contract action between two citizens.There has been a seizure of goods that was ruled uponby a federal judge and assets were disposed of in breachof the federally-ordered seizure. The 2008 amendmentof the Constitution provides up to eight years for thefederal authorities to implement the necessary laws andother measures to give effect to the amendment. So as aprosecutor, I would take the view that I have an amplewindow of time in which to prosecute this matter beforea federal judge.
Manuel Caloca: Maybe we need to adopt a trainingprogram to address the interaction of state and federalrules, but in Mexico we do nothave this.
Eduardo Amerena: But this isa prerogative of the claimant.The Constitution states in itsarticle 114 that when there areparticular interests involved, theclaimant can choose the court.
Manuel Caloca: But if I were the plaintiff, I wouldchoose the inquisitorial system because I can extortmoney from the defendant by the threat of placing himin jail under the federal rules.
Eduardo Amerena: As a claimant you have a choice.In a real situation, the creditor would go before thefederal judge to advise that the assets were disposed ofimproperly and would request the judge to inform thePublic Ministry directly with a request to investigate andprosecute.
Patrick Del Duca: Say the Public Ministry completesthe file, the judge then reads the file and says I convict.
Layda Negrete: Before convicting, the judge wouldlikely issue an arrest warrant.
Patrick Del Duca: The judge issues an arrest warrant,and then what happens?
Layda Negrete: As defense lawyer if I learn in advanceof the imminent or actual issuance of an arrest warrantagainst my client, my advice would be to flee thecountry. This is real.
Eduardo Amerena: In Mexico City, this would besound advice.
Layda Negrete: The goal would be to avoid to face theprocedure in trial. I would try to protect my client thatway. If I did not learn of the arrest warrant in time, itwould be a very bleak future for my client, althoughthere are still steps that I could take as a defenseattorney.
Patrick Del Duca: Let us drive this forward. Assumethat the owner of the business does become the objectof an arrest warrant, and perhaps takes the view, “I wantjustice, I am going to stay to contest this”. This personwould be arrested?
Eduardo Amerena: Not necessarily. In a federalmatter, you could ask for review by a judicial panel inwhich you would seek a suspension of the arrestwarrant. Because this is a federal constitutional controlprocedure handled by a federal judge, the judge wouldgive the defendant three days to present himself forexecution of the arrest warrant. In the federal venue,there is the ability to make bail. To assure this right, thefederal court can enjoin the police from executing anarrest warrant. This might allow the establishment of abasis for the defendant to face the ongoing procedurewith the benefit of liberty from incarceration during theprocedure. Layda Negrete is correct that if the arrestwarrant were issued under the laws of Mexico City, thesound advice would be to put the client safely awaywhile contesting the constitutionality of the warrantbefore a federal judge.
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As defense lawyer if I learn in advance of theimminent or actual issuance of an arrest warrantagainst my client, my advice would be to flee thecountry. This is real.
Audience question: Does it matter whether thedefendant is a legal entity or an individual?
Eduardo Amerena: The crime in the example iscommitted by the debtor’s principal owner. The finepoint in this is that there arethe two sets of potentiallyrelevant crimes contained inthe Federal Penal Code, whichif analyzed individually mightlead to a conclusion of nocrime. One of the potentialcrimes is to be the owner of theassets object of the seizure,which is not the case becauseMexican law distinguishes between physical and moralentities. The other is for the depositary to convert theassets, which did not happen here. In this instance itwas the moral entity that disposed of the refrigeratorsto its customers.
Manuel Caloca: But the depositary had the obligationnot to allow a third party to receive the assets. If I werethe judge, I would say that the individual was guilty ofcommitting this crime.
Eduardo Amerena: According to the case, the keyissue is the breach of trust. The question of this case iswhether the breach of trust constitutes a type ofembezzlement. There is the possibility of proceedingsin the nature of proceedings for contempt of court.One cannot understand automatically that the owner ofthe company consented that the assets be sold. Inorder to conclude that the owner had liability, twopoints would need to be probed. The mere fact of theindividual’s ownership of the stock of the companywould not be sufficient to imply that the ownerconsented to the transfer of the assets in violation ofthe court’s ruling. It would be necessary to provemalice (dolo), that there was a previous agreementbetween the defendants, and that they willfullyparticipated in the commission of a crime. One cannotestablish criminal responsibility simply by invoking theresponsibilities under corporate and commercial lawrelative to the roles of the owners and operators of acompany. It is necessary to establishthat conduct in violation of article 13of the Federal Criminal Code
occurred.
Patrick Del Duca: Let me interrupt with a point oforder. Our time is rapidly coming to a close. I wouldlike to ask each of our panelists to offer a comment
about what will happen next in respect of the reform.
Manuel Caloca: Under the reform when fullyimplemented, this case would not likely go to trial.Rather it would be resolved through negotiation orunder an abbreviated proceeding. This is a goodexample of how the reform will help the conduct ofbusiness. It will enable things to be done faster andmore effectively. The long criminal procedure thatwould currently apply would not be an issue under thereform.
Eduardo Amerena: We need to be excited, and opento change. We must admit to ourselves, and I make adeclaration contrary to the core of my line of work, thatcriminal procedure should be the last recourse toresolve conflict. We are pioneers in the current reformeffort. This kind of reform comes around maybe every100 years. Mexico’s criminal procedure reform incourse is the most ambitious of Latin America. Itcarries new figures not found elsewhere in LatinAmerica such as the judge of control. We have toexplore and to be more democratic in our way oflooking at criminal law. I think it is a cultural issue.Under the new system, the victim will have newopportunity to file criminal claims directly before thejudge. A change in the culture of criminalizing disputeswhich pertain to matters not of an inherently criminalnature is just one element of the change of mindset thatis required for the success of the reform.
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We need to be excited, and open to change. Wemust admit to ourselves, and I make a declarationcontrary to the core of my line of work, thatcriminal procedure should be the last recourse toresolve conflict. We are pioneers in the currentreform effort.
Mexico’s criminal procedure reform in courseis the most ambitious of Latin America.
Layda Negrete: The main differencebetween today and where we aim to arriveis the role of the prosecutor. Theprosecutor currently has a tremendousamount of power, and corruption isproportional to that amount of power. A sensiblereform, well-implemented, will reduce the power of theprosecutor in several ways. In the future we would liketo have a negotiation opportunity that would be legaland open, to used in preference to trial. Moreover, bailwould also be more securely available so thatdefendants could face trials in liberty.
This is an incredible opportunity for Mexico to restorethings that are not working, especially in respect ofcorruption. We can definitely fail. Simply reformingthe code will not change the reality by itself and causeall the inertia to cease. I think that this is anopportunity for everyone that is interested in this topicto push hard for a goodimplementation. It willbe very difficult to haveanother opportunity asgood as this one. Oncewe complete the reformand implementation ofthe constitutional amendment, the window ofopportunity for reform will not open again in the nearfuture, and this is why it so critical to be involved.
Patrick Del Duca: In conclusion, what we have heardtoday is that Mexico faces both a challenge and anopportunity.
One of the justifications offered for federalism in theUnited States is that the states are laboratories forexperimentation to evolve the law to better end, and Ithink in Mexico we are seeing that phenomenon aswell. There are clearly some states in Mexico which
have been leaders in this effort and have beenimportant in triggering the federal constitutionalcommitment to implement the reform more broadly.
I would also like to underline the notion of theimportance of people and culture. What I am hearingfrom our three experts is that those who are involved inthe present system need to reeducate themselves, needto become part of the solution. Inasmuch as thesolution at the present time is far from fully defined,there is a great deal of work to do at the level of formallegal norms, at the level of the institutions throughwhich those norms are applied and developed, and inrespect of the people in all parts of the system who are
responsible for making itwork.
We are going to close witha reference to Leyda’sfilm, Presunto culpable. Ituses the medium ofculture, more precisely of
film, to provide insight into the reality that is now thesystem and to provoke dialog and thought as to how tofurther reform it. To achieve the promise of thereform will require the application of all available tools,and certainly tools such as Presunto culpable that reachbeyond the bounds of conventional legal and academicwritings will make essential contributions to achieving asound implementation of the reform.
I would like to ask that you join me in thanking ourpanel for a very stimulating and insightful presentation.We look forward to their further work.
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There is a great deal of work to do at the level of formal legalnorms, at the level of the institutions through which thosenorms are applied and developed, and in respect of the peoplein all parts of the system who are responsible for making itwork.
This is an incredible opportunityfor Mexico to restore things that arenot working, especially in respect ofcorruption.
The main difference between today andwhere we aim to arrive is the role of theprosecutor.
DECRETO por el que se reforman y adicionandiversas disposiciones de la Constitución Política de losEstados Unidos Mexicanos.
DECREE by which diverse provisions of the PoliticalConstitution of the Mexican United States arereformed and added.
Al margen un sello con el Escudo Nacional, que dice:Estados Unidos Mexicanos.- Presidenciade la República.
At the margin a seal with the National Shield, that says:The Mexican United States. - Presidencyof the Republic.
FELIPE DE JESÚS CALDERÓN HINOJOSA,Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, a sushabitantes sabed:
FELIPE DE JESUS CALDERÓN HINOJOSA,President of the Mexican United States, to itsinhabitants may they know:
Que la Comisión Permanente del Honorable Congresode la Unión, se ha servido dirigirme el siguiente
That the Permanent Commission of the HonorableCongress of the Union, has served itself to direct methe following
DECRETO DECREE
“LA COMISIÓN PERMANENTE DELHONORABLE CONGRESO DE LA UNIÓN, ENUSO DE LA FACULTAD QUE LE CONFIERE ELARTÍCULO 135 CONSTITUCIONAL Y PREVIALA APROBACIÓN DE LAS CÁMARAS DEDIPUTADOS Y DE SENADORES DELCONGRESO GENERAL DE LOS ESTADOSUNIDOS MEXICANOS, ASÍ COMO LAMAYORÍA DE LAS LEGISLATURAS DE LOSESTADOS,
“THE PERMANENT COMMISSION OF THEHONORABLE CONGRESS OF THE UNION, INUSE OF THE FACULTY THATCONSTITUTIONAL ARTICLE 135 CONFERS TOIT AND FOLLOWING THE APPROVAL OF THECHAMBERS OF THE DEPUTIES AND THESENATORS OF THE GENERAL CONGRESS OFTHE UNITED MEXICAN STATES, AS WELL ASTHE MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATURES OFTHE STATES,
DECRETA: DECREES:
SE REFORMAN Y ADICIONAN DIVERSASDISPOSICIONES DE LA CONSTITUCIÓNPOLÍTICA DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOSMEXICANOS.
VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE POLITICALCONSTITUTION OF THE MEXICAN UNITEDSTATES ARE REFORMED AND ADDED.
Único. Se reforman los artículos 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21y 22; las fracciones XXI y XXIII del artículo 73; lafracción VII del artículo 115 y la fracción XIII delapartado B del artículo 123, todos de la ConstituciónPolítica de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, para quedarcomo sigue:
Sole Article. Articles 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22;fractions XXI and XXIII of article 73; fraction VII ofarticle 115 and fraction XIII of section B of article 123,all of the Political Constitution of the United MexicanStates, are reformed, to rest as follows:
Artículo 16. Nadie puede ser molestado en su persona,familia, domicilio, papeles o posesiones, sino en virtudde mandamiento escrito de la autoridad competente,que funde y motive la causa legal del procedimiento.
Article 16. Nobody can be disturbed in his person,family, address, papers or possessions, except by virtueof written order of the competent authority, thatfounds and motivates the legal cause of the procedure.
No podrá librarse orden de aprehensión sino por laautoridad judicial y sin que preceda denuncia o querellade un hecho que la ley señale como delito, sancionadocon pena privativa de libertad y obren datos queestablezcan que se ha cometido ese hecho y que existala probabilidad de que el indiciado lo cometió oparticipó en su comisión.
An order of apprehension cannot be issued except bythe judicial authority and unless there precedesdenunciation or complaint of a fact that the lawindicates as crime, sanctioned with punishmentdepriving of freedom and data are working thatestablish that this fact has been committed and thatthere exists the probability that the suspect committedit or participated in its commission.
La autoridad que ejecute una orden judicial deaprehensión, deberá poner al inculpado a disposicióndel juez, sin dilación alguna y bajo su más estrictaresponsabilidad. La contravención a lo anterior serásancionada por la ley penal.
The authority that executes a judicial order ofapprehension, must put the accused at disposition ofthe judge, without any delay and under its most strictresponsibility. Contravention of the foregoing will besanctioned by the criminal law.
Cualquier persona puede detener al indiciado en elmomento en que esté cometiendo un delito oinmediatamente después de haberlo cometido,poniéndolo sin demora a disposición de la autoridadmás cercana y ésta con la misma prontitud, a la delMinisterio Público. Existirá un registro inmediato de ladetención.
Any person can detain the suspect at the moment atwhich he is committing a crime or immediately afterhaving committed it, placing him without delay atdisposition of the nearest authority and this with thesame promptness, to that of the Prosecutor. Animmediate registry of the detention will exist.
Sólo en casos urgentes, cuando se trate de delito graveasí calificado por la ley y ante el riesgo fundado de queel indiciado pueda sustraerse a la acción de la justicia,siempre y cuando no se pueda ocurrir ante la autoridadjudicial por razón de la hora, lugar o circunstancia, elMinisterio Público podrá, bajo su responsabilidad,ordenar su detención, fundando y expresando losindicios que motiven su proceder.
Only in urgent cases, when it is a question of a seriouscrime thus described by the law and before thefounded risk that the suspect might evade the action ofjustice, only if it is not possible to appear before thejudicial authority because of the hour, place orcircumstance, the Prosecutor will be able, under itsresponsibility, to order his detention, founding andexpressing the indications that motivate its proceeding.
En casos de urgencia o flagrancia, el juez que reciba laconsignación del detenido deberá inmediatamenteratificar la detención o decretar la libertad con lasreservas de ley.
In cases of urgency or flagrancy, the judge whoreceives the consignment of the prisoner shallimmediately ratify the detention or decree the freedomwith the reserves of law.
La autoridad judicial, a petición del Ministerio Públicoy tratándose de delitos de delincuencia organizada,podrá decretar el arraigo de una persona, con lasmodalidades de lugar y tiempo que la ley señale, sin quepueda exceder de cuarenta días, siempre que seanecesario para el éxito de la investigación, la protecciónde personas o bienes jurídicos, o cuando exista riesgofundado de que el inculpado se sustraiga a la acción dela justicia. Este plazo podrá prorrogarse, siempre ycuando el Ministerio Público acredite que subsisten lascausas que le dieron origen. En todo caso, la duracióntotal del arraigo no podrá exceder los ochenta días.
The judicial authority, at the request of the Prosecutorand it being a question of crimes of organizeddelinquency, will be able to decree the arrest of aperson, with the modalities of place and time that thelaw indicates, without that it can exceed forty days,whenever it is necessary for the success of theinvestigation, the protection of people or legallyprotected interests, or when founded risk exists thatthe accused might evade the action of justice. Thisterm will be able to be extended, as long as theProsecutor certifies that the causes subsist that gaveorigin to it. In any case, the total duration of the arrestwill not be able to exceed eighty days.
Por delincuencia organizada se entiende unaorganización de hecho de tres o más personas, paracometer delitos en forma permanente o reiterada, enlos términos de la ley de la materia.
By organized delinquency is understood anorganization in fact of three more persons, to commitcrimes in permanent or reiterated form, in the terms ofthe law of the matter.
Ningún indiciado podrá ser retenido por el MinisterioPúblico por más de cuarenta y ocho horas, plazo enque deberá ordenarse su libertad o ponérsele adisposición de la autoridad judicial; este plazo podráduplicarse en aquellos casos que la ley prevea comodelincuencia organizada. Todo abuso a loanteriormente dispuesto será sancionado por la leypenal.
No suspect will be able to be retained by theProsecutor for more than forty eight hours, term inwhich there will have to be ordered his freedom or toput him at disposition of the judicial authority; thisterm will be able to be doubled in those cases that thelaw contemplates as organized delinquency. All abuseto the foregoing established will be sanctioned by thecriminal law.
En toda orden de cateo, que sólo la autoridad judicialpodrá expedir, a solicitud del Ministerio Público, seexpresará el lugar que ha de inspeccionarse, la personao personas que hayan de aprehenderse y los objetosque se buscan, a lo que únicamente debe limitarse ladiligencia, levantándose al concluirla, un actacircunstanciada, en presencia de dos testigospropuestos por el ocupante del lugar cateado o en suausencia o negativa, por la autoridad que practique ladiligencia.
In all order of search, that only the judicial authoritywill be able to issue, at request of the Prosecutor, onewill express the place that is to be inspected, the personor people who are to be apprehended and the objectssought, to which the investigation must solely belimited, there being prepared on concluding it, adetailed act, in the presence of two witnesses proposedby the occupant of the searched place or in theirabsence or refusal, by the authority that accomplishesthe investigation.
Las comunicaciones privadas son inviolables. La leysancionará penalmente cualquier acto que atente contrala libertad y privacía de las mismas, excepto cuandosean aportadas de forma voluntaria por alguno de losparticulares que participen en ellas. El juez valorará elalcance de éstas, siempre y cuando contenganinformación relacionada con la comisión de un delito.En ningún caso se admitirán comunicaciones queviolen el deber de confidencialidad que establezca laley.
The private communications are inviolable. The lawwill sanction criminally any act that attempts againstthe freedom and privacy of the same, except when theyare contributed in voluntary form by any of theindividuals that participate in them. The judge willevaluate the reach of these, as long as they containinformation related to the commission of a crime. Inno case will communications be admitted that violatethe duty of confidentiality that the law establishes.
Exclusivamente la autoridad judicial federal, a peticiónde la autoridad federal que faculte la ley o del titular delMinisterio Público de la entidad federativacorrespondiente, podrá autorizar la intervención decualquier comunicación privada. Para ello, la autoridadcompetente deberá fundar y motivar las causas legalesde la solicitud, expresando además, el tipo deintervención, los sujetos de la misma y su duración. Laautoridad judicial federal no podrá otorgar estasautorizaciones cuando se trate de materias de carácterelectoral, fiscal, mercantil, civil, laboral oadministrativo, ni en el caso de las comunicaciones deldetenido con su defensor.
Exclusively the federal judicial authority, at the requestof the federal authority that the law authorizes or ofthe holder of the Prosecutor’s office of thecorresponding federal organization, will be able toauthorize the interception of any privatecommunication. For it, the competent authority mustfound and motivate the legal causes of the request,expressing in addition, the type of intervention, thesubjects of same and their duration. The federaljudicial authority will not be able to grant theseauthorizations when it is a question of matters ofelectoral, tax, mercantile, civil, labor or administrativecharacter, nor in the case of the communications of theprisoner with his defender.
Los Poderes Judiciales contarán con jueces de controlque resolverán, en forma inmediata, y por cualquiermedio, las solicitudes de medidas cautelares,providencias precautorias y técnicas de investigación dela autoridad, que requieran control judicial,garantizando los derechos de los indiciados y de lasvíctimas u ofendidos. Deberá existir un registrofehaciente de todas las comunicaciones entre jueces yMinisterio Público y demás autoridades competentes.
The Judicial Powers will have judges of control whowill resolve, in immediate form, and by any means, therequests of cautionary measures, interim measures andtechniques of investigation of the authority, thatrequire judicial control, guaranteeing the rights of thesuspects and the victims or offended parties. Thereshall exist a registry making faith of all thecommunications between judges and Prosecutor andother competent authorities.
Las intervenciones autorizadas se ajustarán a losrequisitos y límites previstos en las leyes. Los resultadosde las intervenciones que no cumplan con éstos,carecerán de todo valor probatorio.
The interventions authorized will be adjusted to therequirements and limits contemplated in the laws. Theresults of the interventions that do not fulfill these, willlack all probatory value.
La autoridad administrativa podrá practicar visitasdomiciliarias únicamente para cerciorarse de que se hancumplido los reglamentos sanitarios y de policía; yexigir la exhibición de los libros y papelesindispensables para comprobar que se han acatado lasdisposiciones fiscales, sujetándose en estos casos, a lasleyes respectivas y a las formalidades prescritas para loscateos.
The administrative authority will be able to makedomiciliary visits solely to make sure that theregulations of health and of police have been satisfied;and to demand the exhibition of the books and papersindispensable to verify that the fiscal dispositions havebeen satisfied, subjecting itself in these cases, to therespective laws and the prescribed formalities for theinspections.
La correspondencia que bajo cubierta circule por lasestafetas estará libre de todo registro, y su violaciónserá penada por la ley.
The correspondence that under cover circulates by mailwill be free of all registry, and its violation will bepunished by the law.
En tiempo de paz ningún miembro del Ejército podráalojarse en casa particular contra la voluntad del dueño,ni imponer prestación alguna. En tiempo de guerra losmilitares podrán exigir alojamiento, bagajes, alimentosy otras prestaciones, en los términos que establezca laley marcial correspondiente.
In time of peace no member of the Army will be ableto lodge in a particular house against the will of theowner, nor to impose any performance. In time of warthe military will be able to demand lodging, baggages,foods and other benefits, in the terms that thecorresponding martial law establishes.
Artículo 17. Ninguna persona podrá hacerse justiciapor sí misma, ni ejercer violencia para reclamar suderecho.
Article 17. No person will be able to do justice byhimself, nor to exert violence to demand his right.
Toda persona tiene derecho a que se le administrejusticia por tribunales que estarán expeditos paraimpartirla en los plazos y términos que fijen las leyes,emitiendo sus resoluciones de manera pronta, completae imparcial. Su servicio será gratuito, quedando, enconsecuencia, prohibidas las costas judiciales.
Every person has right that justice is administered tohim by courts who will be expeditious to distribute it inthe periods and terms that the laws fix, issuing theirresolutions in quick, complete and impartial manner.Their service will be free, being, consequently,prohibited the judicial coasts.
Las leyes preverán mecanismos alternativos de soluciónde controversias. En la materia penal regularán suaplicación, asegurarán la reparación del daño yestablecerán los casos en los que se requerirásupervisión judicial.
The laws will anticipate alternative mechanisms ofsolution of controversies. In the criminal matter theywill regulate its application, they will assure thecompensation of the damage and will establish thecases in which judicial supervision will be required.
Las sentencias que pongan fin a los procedimientosorales deberán ser explicadas en audiencia públicaprevia citación de las partes.
The decisions that end the oral procedures must beexplained in public hearing following service on theparties.
Las leyes federales y locales establecerán los mediosnecesarios para que se garantice la independencia de lostribunales y la plena ejecución de sus resoluciones.
The federal and local laws will establish the meansnecessary so that the independence of the courts andthe total execution of their resolutions is guaranteed.
La Federación, los Estados y el Distrito Federalgarantizarán la existencia de un servicio de defensoríapública de calidad para la población y asegurarán lascondiciones para un servicio profesional de carrerapara los defensores. Las percepciones de los defensoresno podrán ser inferiores a las que correspondan a losagentes del Ministerio Público.
The Federation, the States and the Federal District willguarantee the existence of a service of public defenderof quality for the population and will assure theconditions for a professional service of career for thedefenders. The compensations of the defenders willnot be able to be inferior to those corresponding to theProsecutor’s agents [Deputy Attorney General].
Nadie puede ser aprisionado por deudas de carácterpuramente civil.
No one can be imprisoned for debts of purely civilcharacter.
Artículo 18. Sólo por delito que merezca penaprivativa de libertad habrá lugar a prisión preventiva. Elsitio de ésta será distinto del que se destinare para laextinción de las penas y estarán completamenteseparados.
Article 18. Only for crime that might meritpunishment depriving of freedom will preventivedetention have place. The site of this will be differentfrom that established for the serving of punishmentsand they will be completely separated.
El sistema penitenciario se organizará sobre la base deltrabajo, la capacitación para el mismo, la educación, lasalud y el deporte como medios para lograr lareinserción del sentenciado a la sociedad y procurarque no vuelva a delinquir, observando los beneficiosque para él prevé la ley. Las mujeres compurgarán suspenas en lugares separados de los destinados a loshombres para tal efecto.
The penitentiary system will be organized on the baseof the work, the training for the same, the education,the health and the sport as means to obtaining thereintegration of the sentenced one to society and toprocure that he does not return to break the law,observing the benefits that for it the law anticipates .Women will serve their punishments in placesseparated from those allocated to men for suchpurpose.
La Federación, los Estados y el Distrito Federal podráncelebrar convenios para que los sentenciados pordelitos del ámbito de su competencia extingan laspenas en establecimientos penitenciarios dependientesde una jurisdicción diversa.
The Federation, the States and the Federal District willbe able to make agreements so that those sentenced forcrimes in the scope of their jurisdiction serve theirsentences in penitentiary establishments dependent ona different jurisdiction.
La Federación, los Estados y el Distrito Federalestablecerán, en el ámbito de sus respectivascompetencias, un sistema integral de justicia que seráaplicable a quienes se atribuya la realización de unaconducta tipificada como delito por las leyes penales ytengan entre doce años cumplidos y menos dedieciocho años de edad, en el que se garanticen losderechos fundamentales que reconoce estaConstitución para todo individuo, así como aquellosderechos específicos que por su condición de personasen desarrollo les han sido reconocidos. Las personasmenores de doce años que hayan realizado unaconducta prevista como delito en la ley, solo seránsujetos a rehabilitación y asistencia social.
The Federation, the States and the Federal District willestablish, in the scope of their respective competences,an integral system of justice that will be applicable tothose to whom one attributes the realization of aconduct typified as crime by the criminal law and havebetween twelve years completed and less then eighteenyears of age, in which the fundamental rights areguaranteed that this Constitution recognizes for everyindividual, as well as those specific rights that by theircondition of people in development have beenrecognized them. Those less then twelve years thathave made a conduct anticipated as crime in the law,will only be subject to rehabilitation and social support.
La operación del sistema en cada orden de gobiernoestará a cargo de instituciones, tribunales y autoridadesespecializados en la procuración e impartición dejusticia para adolescentes. Se podrán aplicar las medidasde orientación, protección y tratamiento que ameritecada caso, atendiendo a la protección integral y elinterés superior del adolescente.
The operation of the system in each order ofgovernment will be at charge of institutions, courts andauthorities specialized in the procurement andimparting of justice for adolescents. There will be ableto be applied the means of orientation, protection andtreatment that each case merits, attending to theintegral protection and the better interest of theadolescent.
Las formas alternativas de justicia deberán observarseen la aplicación de este sistema, siempre que resulteprocedente. En todos los procedimientos seguidos alos adolescentes se observará la garantía del debidoproceso legal, así como la independencia entre lasautoridades que efectúen la remisión y las queimpongan las medidas. Éstas deberán serproporcionales a la conducta realizada y tendrán comofin la reintegración social y familiar del adolescente, asícomo el pleno desarrollo de su persona y capacidades.El internamiento se utilizará solo como medidaextrema y por el tiempo más breve que proceda, ypodrá aplicarse únicamente a los adolescentes mayoresde catorce años de edad, por la comisión de conductasantisociales calificadas como graves.
The alternative forms of justice will have to beobserved in the application of this system, whenever itresults to proceed. In all the procedures followed forthe adolescents the guarantee of the due legal processwill be observed, as well as the independence betweenthe authorities that carry out the imposition and thosethat apply the measures. These will have to beproportional to the conduct made and will have as aimthe social and familial reintegration of the adolescent,as well as the total development of his person andcapacities. Internment will be used only as extrememeasure and for the most brief time that applies, and itwill be able to be applied solely to the adolescentsgreater than fourteen years of age, for the commissionof antisocial conducts qualified as serious.
Los sentenciados de nacionalidad mexicana que seencuentren compurgando penas en países extranjeros,podrán ser trasladados a la República para que cumplansus condenas con base en los sistemas de reinserciónsocial previstos en este artículo, y los sentenciados denacionalidad extranjera por delitos del orden federal odel fuero común, podrán ser trasladados al país de suorigen o residencia, sujetándose a los TratadosInternacionales que se hayan celebrado para ese efecto.El traslado de los reclusos sólo podrá efectuarse con suconsentimiento expreso.
Those sentenced of Mexican nationality that findthemselves serving sentences in foreign countries, willbe able to be transferred to the Republic so that theyfulfill there sentences with base in the systems of socialreintegration anticipated in this article, and thosesentenced of foreign nationality for crimes of thefederal order or of the common law, will be able to betransferred to the country of their origin or residence,subjecting themselves to the International Treaties thathave been made for that effect. The transfer of theinmates will only be able to take place with theirexpress consent.
Los sentenciados, en los casos y condiciones queestablezca la ley, podrán compurgar sus penas en loscentros penitenciarios más cercanos a su domicilio, afin de propiciar su reintegración a la comunidad comoforma de reinserción social. Esta disposición noaplicará en caso de delincuencia organizada y respectode otros internos que requieran medidas especiales deseguridad.
Those sentenced, in the cases and conditions that thelaw establishes, will be able to serve their punishmentsin the penitentiary centers nearer their domicile, inorder to facilitate their reintegration to the communityas form of social reintegration. This disposition will notapply in case of organized delinquency and in respectto other inmates that require special measures ofsecurity.
Para la reclusión preventiva y la ejecución de sentenciasen materia de delincuencia organizada se destinaráncentros especiales. Las autoridades competentespodrán restringir las comunicaciones de los inculpadosy sentenciados por delincuencia organizada conterceros, salvo el acceso a su defensor, e imponermedidas de vigilancia especial a quienes se encuentreninternos en estos establecimientos. Lo anterior podráaplicarse a otros internos que requieran medidasespeciales de seguridad, en términos de la ley.
For the preventive imprisonment and the execution ofsentences in the matter of organized delinquencyspecial centers will be destined. The competentauthorities will be able to restrict the communicationsof those accused and those sentenced for organizeddelinquency with third parties, except for the access totheir defender, and to impose measures of specialmonitoring to those who find themselves inmates inthese establishments. The forgoing will be able to beapplied to other inmates that require special measuresof security, in terms of the law.
Artículo 19. Ninguna detención ante autoridad judicialpodrá exceder del plazo de setenta y dos horas, a partirde que el indiciado sea puesto a su disposición, sin quese justifique con un auto de vinculación a proceso en elque se expresará: el delito que se impute al acusado; ellugar, tiempo y circunstancias de ejecución, así comolos datos que establezcan que se ha cometido un hechoque la ley señale como delito y que exista laprobabilidad de que el indiciado lo cometió o participóen su comisión.
Article 19. No detention before judicial authority willbe able to exceed the term of seventy two hours,starting from when the subject is placed at itsdisposition, without that it is justified with an orderbound to procedure in which there will be expressed:the crime that is imputed to the defendant; the place,time and circumstances of execution, as well as the datathat establish that a fact has been committed that thelaw indicates as crime and that there exists theprobability that the suspect committed it orparticipated in its commission.
MM E X I C OE X I C O UU P D A T EP D A T EEl Ministerio Público sólo podrá solicitar al juez laprisión preventiva cuando otras medidas cautelares nosean suficientes para garantizar la comparecencia delimputado en el juicio, el desarrollo de la investigación,la protección de la víctima, de los testigos o de lacomunidad, así como cuando el imputado esté siendoprocesado o haya sido sentenciado previamente por lacomisión de un delito doloso. El juez ordenará laprisión preventiva, oficiosamente, en los casos dedelincuencia organizada, homicidio doloso, violación,secuestro, delitos cometidos con medios violentoscomo armas y explosivos, así como delitos graves quedetermine la ley en contra de la seguridad de la nación,el libre desarrollo de la personalidad y de la salud.
The Prosecutor will only be able to ask the judge forpreventive imprisonment when other measures are notsufficient to guarantee the appearance of the suspect inthe proceeding, the development of the investigation,the protection of the victim, the witnesses or thecommunity, as well as when the suspect is beingprosecuted or has been sentenced previously for thecommission of an intentional crime. The judge willorder the preventive imprisonment, officiously, in thecases of organized delinquency, intentional homicide,violation, kidnapping, crimes committed with violentmeans like arms and explosives, as well as seriouscrimes that the law determines against the security ofthe nation, the free development of the personality andthe health.
La ley determinará los casos en los cuales el juez podrárevocar la libertad de los individuos vinculados aproceso.
The law will determine the cases in which the judge willbe able to revoke the freedom of the individuals boundto process.
El plazo para dictar el auto de vinculación a procesopodrá prorrogarse únicamente a petición del indiciado,en la forma que señale la ley. La prolongación de ladetención en su perjuicio será sancionada por la leypenal. La autoridad responsable del establecimiento enel que se encuentre internado el indiciado, que dentrodel plazo antes señalado no reciba copia autorizada delauto de vinculación a proceso y del que decrete laprisión preventiva, o de la solicitud de prórroga delplazo constitucional, deberá llamar la atención del juezsobre dicho particular en el acto mismo de concluir elplazo y, si no recibe la constancia mencionada dentrode las tres horas siguientes, pondrá al indiciado enlibertad.
The term to dictate the order of binding to process willbe able to be extended solely at the request of thesuspect, in the form that the law indicates. Theprolongation of the detention to his detriment will besanctioned by the criminal law. The authorityresponsible for the establishment in which the suspectis confined, that within the term before signaled doesnot receive authorized copy of the order binding toprocess and that decrees the preventive detention, orthe request of constitutional extension of the term,must call the attention of the judge on this particular inthe act itself to conclude the term and, if it does notreceive the confirmation mentioned within the threefollowing hours, it will place the suspect in freedom.
Todo proceso se seguirá forzosamente por el hecho ohechos delictivos señalados en el auto de vinculación aproceso. Si en la secuela de un proceso apareciere quese ha cometido un delito distinto del que se persigue,deberá ser objeto de investigación separada, sinperjuicio de que después pueda decretarse laacumulación, si fuere conducente.
All process will unavoidably be followed for theincriminating fact or facts indicated in the order ofbinding to process. If in the unfolding of a process itwill appear that a different crime has been committedfrom that which is prosecuted, it will have to be objectof separate investigation, without prejudice to theresubsequently being decreed of accumulation, ifappropriate.
Si con posterioridad a la emisión del auto devinculación a proceso por delincuencia organizada elinculpado evade la acción de la justicia o es puesto adisposición de otro juez que lo reclame en elextranjero, se suspenderá el proceso junto con losplazos para la prescripción de la acción penal.
If after the issuance of the order of binding to processfor organized delinquency the accused evades theaction of justice or is made available to another judgewho demands him abroad, there will be suspended theproceeding together with the terms for the prescriptionof the criminal action.
Todo mal tratamiento en la aprehensión o en lasprisiones, toda molestia que se infiera sin motivo legal,toda gabela o contribución, en las cárceles, son abusosque serán corregidos por las leyes y reprimidos por lasautoridades.
All bad treatment in the apprehension or in theprisons, all annoyance that be inflicted without legalreason, every imposition or contribution, in the jails,are abuses that will be corrected by the laws andrepressed by the authorities.
Artículo 20. El proceso penal será acusatorio y oral. Seregirá por los principios de publicidad, contradicción,concentración, continuidad e inmediación.
Article 20. The criminal process will be accusatory andoral. It will be governed by the principles of publicity,contradiction, concentration, continuity andimmediacy.
A. De los principios generales: A. On the general principles:
I. El proceso penal tendrá por objeto el esclarecimientode los hechos, proteger al inocente, procurar que elculpable no quede impune y que los daños causadospor el delito se reparen;
I. The criminal process will have for object theelucidation of the facts, to protect the innocent, toprocure that the culprit does not remain unpunishedand who the damages caused by the crime are repaired;
II. Toda audiencia se desarrollará en presencia del juez,sin que pueda delegar en ninguna persona el desahogoy la valoración de las pruebas, la cual deberá realizarsede manera libre y lógica;
II. All hearing will be developed in the presence of thejudge, without that he can delegate to any person theuncovering and the valuation of the proofs, which willhave to be realized in free and logical way;
III. Para los efectos de la sentencia sólo seconsiderarán como prueba aquellas que hayan sidodesahogadas en la audiencia de juicio. La ley establecerálas excepciones y los requisitos para admitir en juicio laprueba anticipada, que por su naturaleza requieradesahogo previo;
III. For the effects of the sentence there will be onlyconsidered as proof those that have been uncovered inthe hearing of judgment. The law will establish theexceptions and the requirements to admit in judgmentthe anticipated proof, that by its nature may requiresprevious uncovering;
IV. El juicio se celebrará ante un juez que no hayaconocido del caso previamente. La presentación de losargumentos y los elementos probatorios se desarrollaráde manera pública, contradictoria y oral;
IV. The judgment will be celebrated before a judgewho has not known the case previously. Thepresentation of the arguments and probatory elementswill be developed in manner that is public,contradictory and oral;
V. La carga de la prueba para demostrar la culpabilidadcorresponde a la parte acusadora, conforme loestablezca el tipo penal. Las partes tendrán igualdadprocesal para sostener la acusación o la defensa,respectivamente;
V. The burden of proof to demonstrate the culpabilitycorresponds to the accusing party, in agreement withwhat the penal type establishes. The parties will haveprocedural equality to maintain to the accusation or thedefense, respectively;
VI. Ningún juzgador podrá tratar asuntos que esténsujetos a proceso con cualquiera de las partes sin queesté presente la otra, respetando en todo momento elprincipio de contradicción, salvo las excepciones queestablece esta Constitución;
VI. No judger will be able to treat topics that aresubject to process with anyone of the parties withoutthat the other be present, respecting at all moment theprinciple of contradiction, except for the exceptionsthat this Constitution establishes;
VII. Una vez iniciado el proceso penal, siempre ycuando no exista oposición del inculpado, se podrádecretar su terminación anticipada en los supuestos ybajo las modalidades que determine la ley. Si elimputado reconoce ante la autoridad judicial,voluntariamente y con conocimiento de lasconsecuencias, su participación en el delito y existenmedios de convicción suficientes para corroborar laimputación, el juez citará a audiencia de sentencia. Laley establecerá los beneficios que se podrán otorgar alinculpado cuando acepte su responsabilidad;
VII. Once initiated the criminal process, as long asopposition of the accused does not exist, one will beable to be decree its advanced termination in thepresuppositions and under the modalities that the lawdetermines. If the accused recognizes before thejudicial authority, voluntarily and with knowledge ofthe consequences, his participation in the crime andthat there exist the means of conviction sufficient tocorroborate the imputation, the judge will notice tohearing of decision. The law will establish the benefitsthat will be able to be granted to the accused when heaccepts his responsibility;
VIII. El juez sólo condenará cuando exista convicciónde la culpabilidad del procesado;
VIII. The judge will only condemn when conviction ofthe culpability of the accused exists;
IX. Cualquier prueba obtenida con violación dederechos fundamentales será nula, y
IX. Any proof obtained with violation of fundamentalrights will be null, and
X. Los principios previstos en este artículo, seobservarán también en las audiencias preliminares aljuicio.
X. The principles contemplated in this article, will alsobe observed in the hearings preliminary to thejudgment.
B. De los derechos de toda persona imputada: B. On the rights of every accused person:
I. A que se presuma su inocencia mientras no sedeclare su responsabilidad mediante sentencia emitidapor el juez de la causa;
I. To that one presumes his innocence so long as hisresponsibility by means of sentence issued by the judgeof the cause is not declared;
II. A declarar o a guardar silencio. Desde el momentode su detención se le harán saber los motivos de lamisma y su derecho a guardar silencio, el cual no podráser utilizado en su perjuicio. Queda prohibida y serásancionada por la ley penal, toda incomunicación,intimidación o tortura. La confesión rendida sin laasistencia del defensor carecerá de todo valorprobatorio;
II. To declare or to keep silence. From the moment ofhis detention there will be let known to him thereasons for same and his right to keep silence, whichwill not be able to be used to his detriment. It remainsprohibited and it will be sanctioned by the criminal law,all lack of communication, intimidation or torture. Theconfession rendered without the attendance of thedefender will lack all probatory value;
III. A que se le informe, tanto en el momento de sudetención como en su comparecencia ante elMinisterio Público o el juez, los hechos que se leimputan y los derechos que le asisten. Tratándose dedelincuencia organizada, la autoridad judicial podráautorizar que se mantenga en reserva el nombre y datosdel acusador.
III. To that one informs him, in the moment of hisdetention as well as in his appearance before theProsecutor or the judge, the facts that are imputed tohim and the rights that attend to him. It being aquestion of organized delinquency, the judicialauthority will be able to authorize that it keeps inreserve the name and data of the prosecutor.
La ley establecerá beneficios a favor del inculpado,procesado o sentenciado que preste ayuda eficaz para lainvestigación y persecución de delitos en materia dedelincuencia organizada;
The law will establish benefits in favor of the accused,prosecuted or sentenced party that provides effectiveaid for the investigation and prosecution of crimes inmatter of organized delinquency;
IV. Se le recibirán los testigos y demás pruebaspertinentes que ofrezca, concediéndosele el tiempo quela ley estime necesario al efecto y auxiliándosele paraobtener la comparecencia de las personas cuyotestimonio solicite, en los términos que señale la ley;
IV. There will be received the pertinent witnesses andfurther proofs that he may offer, granting him the timethat the law establishes as necessary for the purposeand helping him to obtain the appearance of the peoplewhose testimony he solicits, in the terms that the lawindicates;
V. Será juzgado en audiencia pública por un juez otribunal. La publicidad sólo podrá restringirse en loscasos de excepción que determine la ley, por razonesde seguridad nacional, seguridad pública, protección delas víctimas, testigos y menores, cuando se ponga enriesgo la revelación de datos legalmente protegidos, ocuando el tribunal estime que existen razones fundadaspara justificarlo.
V. He will be judged in public hearing by a judge orcourt. The publicity will only be able to be restricted inthe cases of exception that the law determines, forreasons of national security, public security, protectionof the victims, witnesses and minors, when therevelation of legally protected data is put in risk, orwhen the court considers that founded reasons exist tojustify it.
En delincuencia organizada, las actuaciones realizadasen la fase de investigación podrán tener valorprobatorio, cuando no puedan ser reproducidas enjuicio o exista riesgo para testigos o víctimas. Loanterior sin perjuicio del derecho del inculpado deobjetarlas o impugnarlas y aportar pruebas en contra;
In organized delinquency, the performances made inthe phase of investigation will be able to haveprobatory value, when they cannot be reproduced injudgment or there exists risk for witnesses or victims.The foregoing is without prejudice of the right of theaccused to object to them or to oppose them and tocontribute contrary proofs;
VI. Le serán facilitados todos los datos que solicitepara su defensa y que consten en el proceso.
VI. There will be facilitated to him all the data that hesolicits for his defense and which are presented in theprocess.
El imputado y su defensor tendrán acceso a losregistros de la investigación cuando el primero seencuentre detenido y cuando pretenda recibírseledeclaración o entrevistarlo. Asimismo, antes de suprimera comparecencia ante juez podrán consultardichos registros, con la oportunidad debida parapreparar la defensa. A partir de este momento nopodrán mantenerse en reserva las actuaciones de lainvestigación, salvo los casos excepcionalesexpresamente señalados en la ley cuando ello seaimprescindible para salvaguardar el éxito de lainvestigación y siempre que sean oportunamenterevelados para no afectar el derecho de defensa;
The accused and his defender will have access to theregistries of the investigation when the formerencounters himself detained and when one tries toreceive his declaration or to interview him. Also, beforehis first appearance before judge said registries will beable to be consulted, with the due opportunity toprepare the defense. From this moment theperformances of the investigation will not be able to bekept in reserve, except for the exceptional casesspecifically indicated in the law when it is essential tosafeguard the success of the investigation and providedthat they are opportunely revealed so as not to affectthe right of defense;
VII. Será juzgado antes de cuatro meses si se tratare dedelitos cuya pena máxima no exceda de dos años deprisión, y antes de un año si la pena excediere de esetiempo, salvo que solicite mayor plazo para su defensa;
VII. One will be judged before four months if it is aquestion of crimes whose maximum penalty does notexceed two years of prison, and before a year if thepenalty will exceed that time, unless the accused asksfor greater term for his defense;
VIII. Tendrá derecho a una defensa adecuada porabogado, al cual elegirá libremente incluso desde elmomento de su detención. Si no quiere o no puedenombrar un abogado, después de haber sido requeridopara hacerlo, el juez le designará un defensor público.También tendrá derecho a que su defensor comparezcaen todos los actos del proceso y éste tendrá obligaciónde hacerlo cuantas veces se le requiera, y
VIII. He will have right to an adequate defense bylawyer, whom he will choose freely including from themoment of his detention. If he does not want or hecannot name a lawyer, after having been asked to do it,the judge will designate a public defender for him. Alsohe will have right that his defender appears in all theacts of the process and this one will have obligation todo it whatever number of times is required, and
IX. En ningún caso podrá prolongarse la prisión odetención, por falta de pago de honorarios dedefensores o por cualquiera otra prestación de dinero,por causa de responsabilidad civil o algún otro motivoanálogo.
IX. In no case will the prison or detention be able tobe extended, for lack of payment of honoraria ofdefenders or by any other provision of money, cause ofcivil responsibility or any other analogous reason.
La prisión preventiva no podrá exceder del tiempo quecomo máximo de pena fije la ley al delito que motivareel proceso y en ningún caso será superior a dos años,salvo que su prolongación se deba al ejercicio delderecho de defensa del imputado. Si cumplido estetérmino no se ha pronunciado sentencia, el imputadoserá puesto en libertad de inmediato mientras se sigueel proceso, sin que ello obste para imponer otrasmedidas cautelares.
The preventive prison will not be able to exceed thetime that the law fixes as maximum penalty for thecrime that will motivate the process and in no case willit be superior to two years, unless its prolongation isdue to the exercise of the right of defense of theaccused. If fulfilled this term, sentence has not beenpronounced, the accused will be set free immediatelywhile the process continues, without that this preventsimposition of other cautionary means.
En toda pena de prisión que imponga una sentencia, secomputará el tiempo de la detención.
In every prison sentence that a judgment imposes, thetime of the detention will be computed .
C. De los derechos de la víctima o del ofendido: C. On the rights of the victim or the offended party:
I. Recibir asesoría jurídica; ser informado de losderechos que en su favor establece la Constitución y,cuando lo solicite, ser informado del desarrollo delprocedimiento penal;
I. To receive legal advice; to be informed of the rightsthat in his favor the Constitution establishes and, whenhe asks for it, to be informed of the development ofthe criminal proceeding;
II. Coadyuvar con el Ministerio Público; a que se lereciban todos los datos o elementos de prueba con losque cuente, tanto en la investigación como en elproceso, a que se desahoguen las diligenciascorrespondientes, y a intervenir en el juicio einterponer los recursos en los términos que prevea laley.
II. To collaborate with the Prosecutor; so that all thedata or elements of proof that he has are received, inthe investigation and in the process, that thecorresponding investigations are unleashed, and to takepart in the judgment and to interpose recourses in theterms that the law anticipates.
Cuando el Ministerio Público considere que no esnecesario el desahogo de la diligencia, deberá fundar ymotivar su negativa;
When the Prosecutor considers that the unleashing ofthe investigation is not necessary, will it must foundand motivate its refusal;
IV. Que se le repare el daño. En los casos en que seaprocedente, el Ministerio Público estará obligado asolicitar la reparación del daño, sin menoscabo de quela víctima u ofendido lo pueda solicitar directamente, yel juzgador no podrá absolver al sentenciado de dichareparación si ha emitido una sentencia condenatoria.
IV. That the damage is repaired to him. In the cases inthat it is appropriate, the Prosecutor will be obligatedto ask for the repair of the damage, without prejudiceto the victim or offended party to ask for it directly,and the judger will not be able to absolve a sentencedparty of this restitution if it has issued a condemnatorysentence.
La ley fijará procedimientos ágiles para ejecutar lassentencias en materia de reparación del daño;
The law will fix agile procedures to execute thesentences in the matter of restitution of the damage;
V. Al resguardo de su identidad y otros datospersonales en los siguientes casos: cuando seanmenores de edad; cuando se trate de delitos deviolación, secuestro o delincuencia organizada; ycuando a juicio del juzgador sea necesario para suprotección, salvaguardando en todo caso los derechosde la defensa.
V. To the defense of their identity and other personaldata in the following cases: when they are minors;when it is a question of crimes of rape, kidnapping ororganized delinquency; and when in opinion of thejudger it is necessary for their protection, safeguardingin any case the rights of the defense.
El Ministerio Público deberá garantizar la protecciónde víctimas, ofendidos, testigos y en general todas lossujetos que intervengan en el proceso. Los juecesdeberán vigilar el buen cumplimiento de estaobligación;
The Prosecutor must guarantee the protection ofvictims, offended parties, witnesses and in general allthe subjects that take part in the process. The judgesmust watch the good fulfillment of this obligation;
VI. Solicitar las medidas cautelares y providenciasnecesarias para la protección y restitución de susderechos, y
VI. To ask for the cautionary measures ordersnecessary for the protection and restitution of theirrights, and
VII. Impugnar ante autoridad judicial las omisiones delMinisterio Público en la investigación de los delitos, asícomo las resoluciones de reserva, no ejercicio,desistimiento de la acción penal o suspensión delprocedimiento cuando no esté satisfecha la reparacióndel daño.
VII. To oppose before judicial authority the omissionsof the Prosecutor in the investigation of the crimes, aswell as the resolutions of reserve, non-exercise,dropping of the claim of the criminal action orsuspension of the procedure when the restitution ofthe damage is not satisfied.
Artículo 21. La investigación de los delitoscorresponde al Ministerio Público y a las policías, lascuales actuarán bajo la conducción y mando de aquélen el ejercicio de esta función.
Article 21. The investigation of the crimes correspondsto the Prosecutor and the police, which will act underthe conduct and control of the Public Ministry in theexercise of this function.
El ejercicio de la acción penal ante los tribunalescorresponde al Ministerio Público. La ley determinarálos casos en que los particulares podrán ejercer laacción penal ante la autoridad judicial.
The exercise of the criminal action before the courtscorresponds to the Prosecutor. The law will determinethe cases in which the individuals will be able to exertthe criminal action before the judicial authority.
La imposición de las penas, su modificación y duraciónson propias y exclusivas de la autoridad judicial.
The imposition of the penalties, their modification andduration are proper and exclusive of the judicialauthority.
III. Recibir, desde la comisión del delito, atenciónmédica y psicológica de urgencia;
III. To receive, from the commission of the crime,medical and psychological attention of urgency;
Compete a la autoridad administrativa la aplicación desanciones por las infracciones de los reglamentosgubernativos y de policía, las que únicamenteconsistirán en multa, arresto hasta por treinta y seishoras o en trabajo a favor de la comunidad; pero si elinfractor no pagare la multa que se le hubieseimpuesto, se permutará esta por el arrestocorrespondiente, que no excederá en ningún caso detreinta y seis horas.
There belongs to the administrative authority theapplication of sanctions for the infractions of thegovernmental regulations and of police, those that willconsist solely of fine, arrest until thirty six hours or inwork in favor of the community; but if the violator willnot pay the fine imposed on him, this will be permutedinto the corresponding arrest, that will not exceed inany case thirty six hours.
Si el infractor de los reglamentos gubernativos y depolicía fuese jornalero, obrero o trabajador, no podráser sancionado con multa mayor del importe de sujornal o salario de un día.
If the violator of the governmental and policeregulations be day laborer, worker or employee, hecannot be sanctioned with a fine greater than theamount of his daily payment or salary of a day.
Tratándose de trabajadores no asalariados, la multa quese imponga por infracción de los reglamentosgubernativos y de policía, no excederá del equivalente aun día de su ingreso.
It being a question of non-salaried workers, the finethat one imposes for infraction of the governmentaland police regulations, will not exceed the equivalent toa day of their income.
El Ministerio Público podrá considerar criterios deoportunidad para el ejercicio de la acción penal, en lossupuestos y condiciones que fije la ley.
The Public Ministry will be able to consider criteria ofopportunity for the exercise of the criminal action, inthe presuppositions and conditions that the law fixes.
El Ejecutivo Federal podrá, con la aprobación delSenado en cada caso, reconocer la jurisdicción de laCorte Penal Internacional.
The Federal Executive will be able, with the approvalof the Senate in each case, to recognize the jurisdictionof the International Criminal Court.
La seguridad pública es una función a cargo de laFederación, el Distrito Federal, los Estados y losMunicipios, que comprende la prevención de losdelitos; la investigación y persecución para hacerlaefectiva, así como la sanción de las infraccionesadministrativas, en los términos de la ley, en lasrespectivas competencias que esta Constitución señala.La actuación de las instituciones de seguridad públicase regirá por los principios de legalidad, objetividad,eficiencia, profesionalismo, honradez y respeto a losderechos humanos reconocidos en esta Constitución.
The public security is a function at charge of theFederation, the Federal District, the States and theMunicipalities, that includes the prevention of thecrimes; the investigation and prosecution to make iteffective, as well as the sanction of the administrativeinfractions, in the terms of the law, in the respectivecompetences that this Constitution indicates. Theperformance of the institutions of public security willbe governed by the principles of legality, objectivity,efficiency, professionalism, honesty and respect for thehuman rights recognized in this Constitution.
Las instituciones de seguridad pública serán de caráctercivil, disciplinado y profesional. El Ministerio Público ylas instituciones policiales de los tres órdenes degobierno deberán coordinarse entre sí para cumplir losobjetivos de la seguridad pública y conformarán elSistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública, que estarásujeto a las siguientes bases mínimas:
The institutions of public security will be of civilcharacter, disciplined and professional . The PublicMinistry and the police institutions of the three ordersof government must be coordinated with each other tofulfill the objectives of the public security and willcomprise the National System of Public Security, thatwill be subject to the following minimum bases:
a) La regulación de la selección, ingreso, formación,permanencia, evaluación, reconocimiento ycertificación de los integrantes de las instituciones deseguridad pública. La operación y desarrollo de estasacciones será competencia de la Federación, el DistritoFederal, los Estados y los municipios en el ámbito desus respectivas atribuciones.
a) The regulation of the selection, entrance, formation,permanence, evaluation, recognition and certificationof the members of the institutions of public security.The operation and development of these actions willbe competence of the Federation, the Federal District,the States and the municipalities in the scope of theirrespective attributions.
b) El establecimiento de las bases de datoscriminalísticos y de personal para las instituciones deseguridad pública. Ninguna persona podrá ingresar alas instituciones de seguridad pública si no ha sidodebidamente certificado y registrado en el sistema.
b) The establishment of the bases of criminal andpersonal data for the institutions of public security. Noperson will be able to enter the institutions of publicsecurity if he has not been properly certified andregistered in the system.
c) La formulación de políticas públicas tendientes aprevenir la comisión de delitos.
c) The formulation of public policies tending toprevent the commission of crimes.
d) Se determinará la participación de la comunidad quecoadyuvará, entre otros, en los procesos de evaluaciónde las políticas de prevención del delito así como de lasinstituciones de seguridad pública.
d) There will be determined the participation of thecommunity that will collaborate, among others, in theprocesses of evaluation of the policies of prevention ofcrime as well as of the institutions of public security.
e) Los fondos de ayuda federal para la seguridadpública, a nivel nacional serán aportados a las entidadesfederativas y municipios para ser destinadosexclusivamente a estos fines.
e) The funds of federal aid for the public security, atnational level will be contributed to the federativeentities and municipalities to be destined exclusively tothese aims.
Artículo 22. Quedan prohibidas las penas de muerte,de mutilación, de infamia, la marca, los azotes, lospalos, el tormento de cualquier especie, la multaexcesiva, la confiscación de bienes y cualesquiera otraspenas inusitadas y trascendentales. Toda pena deberáser proporcional al delito que sancione y al bienjurídico afectado.
Article 22. There remain prohibited the punishmentsof death, mutilation, infamy, whips, stakes, torture ofany kind, excessive fine, the confiscation of goods andany other unusual and transcendental penalties. Allpenalty will have to be proportional to the crime that itsanctions and the affected legally protected interest.
No se considerará confiscación la aplicación de bienesde una persona cuando sea decretada para el pago demultas o impuestos, ni cuando la decrete una autoridadjudicial para el pago de responsabilidad civil derivadade la comisión de un delito. Tampoco se consideraráconfiscación el decomiso que ordene la autoridadjudicial de los bienes en caso de enriquecimiento ilícitoen los términos del artículo 109, la aplicación a favordel Estado de bienes asegurados que causen abandonoen los términos de las disposiciones aplicables, ni la deaquellos bienes cuyo dominio se declare extinto ensentencia. En el caso de extinción de dominio seestablecerá un procedimiento que se regirá por lassiguientes reglas:
There will not be considered confiscation theapplication of goods of a person when it is decreed forthe payment of fines or taxes, nor when a judicialauthority decrees it for the payment of civilresponsibility derived from the commission of a crime.Likewise confiscation will not be considered theseizure that the judicial authority orders of the goods incase of illicit enrichment in the terms of article 109, theapplication in favor of the State of assured goods thatcause abandonment in the terms of the applicabledispositions, nor that of those goods whose dominionis declared extinct in judgment. In the case ofextinction of dominion one will establish a procedurethat will be governed by the following rules:
I. Será jurisdiccional y autónomo del de materia penal; I. It will be jurisdictional and independent of the oneof criminal matter;
II. Procederá en los casos de delincuencia organizada,delitos contra la salud, secuestro, robo de vehículos ytrata de personas, respecto de los bienes siguientes:
II. It will proceed in the cases of organizeddelinquency, crimes against the health, kidnapping,robbery of vehicles and commerce of peopleconcerning the following goods:
a) Aquellos que sean instrumento, objeto o productodel delito, aún cuando no se haya dictado la sentenciaque determine la responsabilidad penal, pero existanelementos suficientes para determinar que el hechoilícito sucedió.
a) Those that be instrument, object or product of thecrime, even when the judgment that determines thecriminal responsibility still not been dictated, but thereexist elements sufficient to determine that the illicit facthappened.
b) Aquellos que no sean instrumento, objeto oproducto del delito, pero que hayan sido utilizados odestinados a ocultar o mezclar bienes producto deldelito, siempre y cuando se reúnan los extremos delinciso anterior.
b) Those that are not instrument, object or product ofthe crime, but that have been used or destined to hideor to mix goods product of the crime, provided thatthere be satisfied the requirements of the precedingindent.
c) Aquellos que estén siendo utilizados para lacomisión de delitos por un tercero, si su dueño tuvoconocimiento de ello y no lo notificó a la autoridad ohizo algo para impedirlo.
c) Those that are being used for the commission ofcrimes by a third party, if its owner had knowledge of itand he did not notify it to the authority or he didsomething to prevent it.
d) Aquellos que estén intitulados a nombre de terceros,pero existan suficientes elementos para determinar queson producto de delitos patrimoniales o dedelincuencia organizada, y el acusado por estos delitosse comporte como dueño.
d) Those that are registered in the name of thirdparties, but there exist sufficient elements to determinethat they are product of patrimonial crimes ororganized delinquency, and the defendant for thesecrimes behaves as owner.
III. Toda persona que se considere afectada podráinterponer los recursos respectivos para demostrar laprocedencia lícita de los bienes y su actuación de buenafe, así como que estaba impedida para conocer lautilización ilícita de sus bienes.
III. Every person who considers himself affected willbe able to interpose the respective recourses todemonstrate to the licit origin of the goods and hisperformance in good faith, as well as that he wasimpeded to know the illicit use of his goods.
Artículo 73. El Congreso tiene facultad: Article 73. The Congress has faculty:
I. a XX. ... I. to XX. ...
XXI. Para establecer los delitos y faltas contra laFederación y fijar los castigos que por ellos debanimponerse, así como legislar en materia de delincuenciaorganizada.
XXI. To establish the crimes and failings against theFederation and to fix the punishments that for themmust be imposed, as well as to legislate in matter oforganized delinquency.
XXIII. Para expedir leyes que establezcan las bases decoordinación entre la Federación, el Distrito Federal,los Estados y los Municipios, así como para establecery organizar a las instituciones de seguridad pública enmateria federal, de conformidad con lo establecido enel artículo 21 de esta Constitución.
XXIII. To issue laws that establish the bases ofcoordination between the Federation, the FederalDistrict, the States and the Municipalities, as well as toestablish and to organize the institutions of publicsecurity in federal matter, in conformity with thatestablished in article 21 of this Constitution.
XXIV. a XXX. ... XXIV. to XXX. ...
Artículo 115. ... Article 115. ...
I. a VI. ... I. to VI. ...
VII. La policía preventiva estará al mando delpresidente municipal en los términos de la Ley deSeguridad Pública del Estado. Aquélla acatará lasórdenes que el Gobernador del Estado le transmita enaquellos casos que éste juzgue como de fuerza mayor oalteración grave del orden público.
VII. The preventive police will be at the control of themunicipal president in the terms of the Law of PublicSecurity of the State. That one will accept the ordersthat the Governor of the State transmits to him inthose cases that this one judges as of force majeure orserious alteration of the public order.
... ...
VIII. ... VIII. …
... ...
IX. y X. ... IX. and X. ...
Artículo 123. Toda persona tiene derecho al trabajodigno y socialmente útil; al efecto, se promoverán lacreación de empleos y la organización social de trabajo,conforme a la ley.
Article 123. Every person has right to worthy andsocially useful work; to the effect, the creation ofemployments and the social organization of work willbe promoted, according to the law.
El Congreso de la Unión, sin contravenir a las basessiguientes deberá expedir leyes sobre el trabajo, lascuales regirán:
The Congress of the Union, without contravening tothe following bases shall issue laws on work, which willcomply with:
Apartado A... Section A…
Apartado B... Section B…
I. a XII. ... I. to XII. ...
XIII. Los militares, marinos, personal del servicioexterior, agentes del Ministerio Público, peritos y losmiembros de las instituciones policiales, se regirán porsus propias leyes.
XIII. The military, sailors, personnel of the externalservice, agents of the Public Ministry, experts and themembers of the police institutions, will be governed bytheir own laws.
Los agentes del Ministerio Público, los peritos y losmiembros de las instituciones policiales de la Federación,el Distrito Federal, los Estados y los Municipios, podránser separados de sus cargos si no cumplen con losrequisitos que las leyes vigentes en el momento del actoseñalen para permanecer en dichas instituciones, oremovidos por incurrir en responsabilidad en eldesempeño de sus funciones. Si la autoridadjurisdiccional resolviere que la separación, remoción,baja, cese o cualquier otra forma de terminación delservicio fue injustificada, el Estado sólo estará obligado apagar la indemnización y demás prestaciones a que tengaderecho, sin que en ningún caso proceda sureincorporación al servicio, cualquiera que sea elresultado del juicio o medio de defensa que se hubierepromovido.
The agents of the Public Ministry, the experts andthe members of the police institutions of theFederation, the Federal District, the States and theMunicipalities, will be able to be separated from theirpositions if they do not comply with therequirements that the laws effective at the momentof the act indicate to remain in these institutions, orremoved for having incurred responsibility in theperformance of their functions. If the jurisdictionalauthority resolves that the separation, removal,demotion, termination or any other form oftermination of the service was unjustified, the Statewill be only obligated to pay the indemnification andother benefits to which he has right, without in anycase that it proceeds to restoration to the service,whatever is the result of the judgment or means ofdefense that will have been promoted.
Las autoridades del orden federal, estatal, del DistritoFederal y municipal, a fin de propiciar el fortalecimientodel sistema de seguridad social del personal delMinisterio Público, de las corporaciones policiales y delos servicios periciales, de sus familias y dependientes,instrumentarán sistemas complementarios de seguridadsocial.
The authorities of the federal, state, Federal Districtand municipal order, for the purpose of encouragingthe fortification of the social security system of thepersonnel of the Public Ministry, the policecorporations and the expert services, of their familiesand employees, will orchestrate systemscomplementary of social security.
El Estado proporcionará a los miembros en el activo delEjército, Fuerza Aérea y Armada, las prestaciones a quese refiere el inciso f) de la fracción XI de este apartado,en términos similares y a través del organismo encargadode la seguridad social de los componentes de dichasinstituciones.
The State will provide to the members in the serviceof the Army, Air Force and Navy, the benefits towhich refers indentation f) of fraction XI of thissection, in similar terms and through the organismcharged with the social security of the components ofthese institutions.
XIII bis. y XIV. ... XIII bis. and XIV. ...
Transitorios Transitory Provisions
Primero. El presente Decreto entrará en vigor al díasiguiente de su publicación en el Diario Oficial de laFederación, con excepción de lo dispuesto en losartículos transitorios siguientes.
First. The present Decree will take effect the dayafter its publication in the Official Daily of theFederation, with exception of that provided in thefollowing transitory articles.
Segundo. El sistema procesal penal acusatorio previstoen los artículos 16, párrafos segundo y decimotercero; 17,párrafos tercero, cuarto y sexto; 19; 20 y 21, párrafoséptimo, de la Constitución, entrará en vigor cuando loestablezca la legislación secundaria correspondiente, sinexceder el plazo de ocho años, contado a partir del díasiguiente de la publicación de este Decreto.
Second. The accusatory criminal procedural systemcontemplated in articles 16, paragraphs second andthirteenth; 17, paragraphs third, quarter and sixth; 19;20 and 21, paragraph seventh, of the Constitution,will take effect when the corresponding secondarylegislation establishes, without exceeding the term ofeight years, counted as of the following day of thepublication of this Decree.
En consecuencia, la Federación, los Estados y elDistrito Federal, en el ámbito de sus respectivascompetencias, deberán expedir y poner en vigor lasmodificaciones u ordenamientos legales que seannecesarios a fin de incorporar el sistema procesal penalacusatorio. La Federación, los Estados y el DistritoFederal adoptarán el sistema penal acusatorio en lamodalidad que determinen, sea regional o por tipo dedelito.
In consequence, the Federation, the States and theFederal District, in the scope of their respectivecompetences, will have to issue and to put into effectthe legal modifications or orderings that are necessaryin order to incorporate the accusatory criminalprocedural system. The Federation, the States and theFederal District will adopt the criminal accusatorysystem in the modality that they determine, be itregional or by type of crime.
En el momento en que se publiquen los ordenamientoslegales a que se refiere el párrafo anterior, los poderes uórgano legislativos competentes deberán emitir,asimismo, una declaratoria que se publicará en losórganos de difusión oficiales, en la que señaleexpresamente que el sistema procesal penal acusatorioha sido incorporado en dichos ordenamientos y, enconsecuencia, que las garantías que consagra estaConstitución empezarán a regular la forma y términosen que se substanciarán los procedimientos penales.
At the moment in which the legal frameworks to whichthe previous paragraph refers are published, thecompetent legislative powers or body will have to issue,also, a declaration that will be published in organs ofofficial diffusion, in which it indicates specifically thatthe accusatory criminal procedural system has beenincorporated in these frameworks and, consequently,that the guarantees that this Constitution consecrateswill begin to regulate the form and terms in which thecriminal procedures will substantiate themselves.
Tercero. No obstante lo previsto en el artículotransitorio segundo, el sistema procesal penalacusatorio previsto en los artículos 16, párrafossegundo y decimotercero; 17, párrafos tercero, cuarto ysexto; 19, 20 y 21, párrafo séptimo, de la Constitución,entrará en vigor al día siguiente de la publicación delpresente Decreto en el Diario Oficial de la Federación,en las entidades federativas que ya lo hubierenincorporado en sus ordenamientos legales vigentes,siendo plenamente válidas las actuaciones procesalesque se hubieren practicado con fundamento en talesordenamientos, independientemente de la fecha en queéstos entraron en vigor. Para tal efecto, deberán hacerla declaratoria prevista en el artículo transitorioSegundo.
Third. Notwithstanding what is anticipated in thesecond transitory article, the accusatory criminalprocedural system anticipated in articles 16, paragraphssecond and thirteenth; 17, paragraphs third, quarterand sixth; 19, 20 and 21, paragraph seventh, of theConstitution, will take effect the day after thepublication of the present Decree in the OfficialNewspaper of the Federation, in the federative entitiesthat will already have incorporated it in their legalorders in force, being totally valid the proceduralperformances that they will have practiced withfoundation in such frameworks, independently of thedate which these took effect. For such effect, they willhave to do the declaration anticipated in the Secondtransitory article.
Cuarto. Los procedimientos penales iniciados conanterioridad a la entrada en vigor del nuevo sistemaprocesal penal acusatorio previsto en los artículos 16,párrafos segundo y decimotercero; 17, párrafos tercero,cuarto y sexto; 19; 20 y 21, párrafo séptimo, de laConstitución, serán concluidos conforme a lasdisposiciones vigentes con anterioridad a dicho acto.
Quarter. The criminal proceedings initiated prior tothe entry into effect of the new accusatory criminalprocedural system contemplated in articles 16,paragraphs second and thirteenth; 17, paragraphs third,quarter and sixth; 19; 20 and 21, paragraph seventh, ofthe Constitution, will be concluded according to thedispositions in force prior to said act.
Quinto. El nuevo sistema de reinserción previsto en elpárrafo segundo del artículo 18, así como el régimen demodificación y duración de penas establecido en elpárrafo tercero del artículo 21, entrarán en vigorcuando lo establezca la legislación secundariacorrespondiente, sin que pueda exceder el plazo de tresaños, contados a partir del día siguiente de lapublicación de este Decreto.
Fifth. The new system of reintegration anticipated inthe second paragraph of article 18, as well as theregime of modification and duration of punishmentsestablished in the third paragraph of article 21, will takeeffect when the corresponding secondary legislationestablishes, without that it can exceed the term of threeyears, counted as from the day following thepublication of this Decree.
Sexto. Las legislaciones en materia de delincuenciaorganizada de las entidades federativas, continuarán envigor hasta en tanto el Congreso de la Unión ejerza lafacultad conferida en el artículo 73, fracción XXI, deesta Constitución. Los procesos penales iniciados confundamento en dichas legislaciones, así como lassentencias emitidas con base en las mismas, no seránafectados por la entrada en vigor de la legislaciónfederal. Por lo tanto, deberán concluirse y ejecutarse,respectivamente, conforme a las disposiciones vigentesantes de la entrada en vigor de esta última.
Sixth. The legislations in the matter of organizeddelinquency of the federative organizations, willcontinue in vigor until the Congress of the Unionexerts the faculty conferred in article 73, fraction XXI,of this Constitution. The criminal processes initiatedwith foundation in said legislations, as well as thedecisions emitted with base in the same ones, will notbe affected by the entry into force of the federallegislation. Therefore, they will have to conclude and tobe executed, respectively, according to the provisionsin force before the entry into force of this last one.
Séptimo. El Congreso de la Unión, a más tardardentro de seis meses a partir de la publicación de esteDecreto, expedirá la ley que establezca el SistemaNacional de Seguridad Pública. Las entidadesfederativas expedirán a más tardar en un año, a partirde la entrada en vigor del presente Decreto, las leyes enesta materia.
Seventh. The Congress of the Union, at the latestwithin six months from the publication of this Decree,will issue the law that establishes the National Systemof Public Security. The federative organizations willissue at the latest in a year, from the taking of effect ofthe present Decree, the laws in this matter.
Octavo. El Congreso de la Unión, las Legislaturas delos estados y el órgano legislativo del Distrito Federal,deberán destinar los recursos necesarios para lareforma del sistema de justicia penal. Las partidaspresupuestales deberán señalarse en el presupuestoinmediato siguiente a la entrada en vigor del presentedecreto y en los presupuestos sucesivos. Estepresupuesto deberá destinarse al diseño de las reformaslegales, los cambios organizacionales, la construcción yoperación de la infraestructura, y la capacitaciónnecesarias para jueces, agentes del Ministerio Público,policías, defensores, peritos y abogados.
Eighth. The Congress of the Union, the Legislaturesof the states and the legislative body of the FederalDistrict, will have to destine the necessary resources forthe reform of the system of criminal justice. Thebudgetary allocations will have to be identified in thebudget immediately following the entry into force ofthe present decree and in the successive budgets. Thisbudget must address the design of the legal reforms,the organizational changes, the construction andoperation of the infrastructure, and the qualificationnecessary for judges, agents of the Public Ministry,police, defenders, experts and lawyers.
Décimo. La Federación creará un fondo especial parael financiamiento de las actividades de la secretaríatécnica a que se refiere el artículo transitorio octavo.Los fondos se otorgarán en función del cumplimientode las obligaciones y de los fines que se establezcan enla Ley.
Tenth. The Federation will create a special fund forthe financing of the activities of the technicalsecretariat to which refers the eighth transitory article.The funds will be granted in function of the fulfillmentof the obligations and the aims that the Lawestablishes.
Décimo Primero. En tanto entra en vigor el sistemaprocesal acusatorio, los agentes del Ministerio Públicoque determine la ley podrán solicitar al juez el arraigodomiciliario del indiciado tratándose de delitos graves yhasta por un máximo de cuarenta días.
Eleventh. As the accusatory procedural system takeseffect, the agents of the Public Ministry that the lawdetermines will be able to ask the judge for thedomiciliary arrest of the suspect, it being a question ofserious crimes and up to a maximum of forty days.
Esta medida será procedente siempre que sea necesariapara el éxito de la investigación, la protección depersonas o bienes jurídicos, o cuando exista riesgofundado de que el inculpado se sustraiga a la acción dela justicia.
This measure will be available whenever it is necessaryfor the success of the investigation, the protection ofpeople or legally protected interests, or when foundedrisk exists that the accused one might evade the actionof justice.
México, D.F., a 28 de mayo de 2008.- Sen. SantiagoCreel Miranda, Presidente.- Dip. Susana MonrealÁvila, Secretaria.- Rúbricas.”
Mexico, D.F., at 28 of May of 2008. - Sen. SantiagoCreel Miranda, President. - Deputy Susana MonrealAvila, Secretary. - Headings.”
En cumplimiento de lo dispuesto por la fracción I delArtículo 89 de la Constitución Política de los EstadosUnidos Mexicanos, y para su debida publicación yobservancia, expido el presente Decreto en laResidencia del Poder Ejecutivo Federal, en la Ciudadde México, Distrito Federal, a diecisiete de junio de dosmil ocho.- Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa.-Rúbrica.- El Secretario de Gobernación, Juan CamiloMouriño Terrazo.- Rúbrica.
In fulfillment of that provided by fraction I of Article89 of the Political Constitution of the Mexican UnitedStates, and for their due publication and observance, Iissue the present Decree in the Residence of theFederal Executive authority, in the City of Mexico,Federal District, at seventeen of June of two thousandeight. - Felipe de Jesus Calderón Hinojosa. -Heading. - The Secretary of Interior, Juan CamiloMouriño Terrazo. - Heading.
Noveno. Dentro de los dos meses siguientes a laentrada en vigor del presente Decreto se creará unainstancia de coordinación integrada por representantesde los Poderes Ejecutivo, Legislativo y Judicial, ademásdel sector académico y la sociedad civil, así como de lasConferencias de Seguridad Pública, Procuración deJusticia y de Presidentes de Tribunales, la cual contarácon una secretaría técnica, que coadyuvará y apoyará alas autoridades locales y federales, cuando así se losoliciten.
Ninth. Within the two months following the taking ofeffect of the present Decree an instance ofcoordination integrated by representatives of theExecutive, Legislative and Judicial authorities, inaddition to the academic sector and the civil society,will be created, as well as of the Conferences of PublicSecurity, Procuration of Justice and Presidents ofCourts, which will have a technical secretariat, that willhelp and support the local and federal authorities,when they ask for it.
Personal Liability for Directors & Officers: The Next Wave in “Economic Meltdown” Litigation(International Secured Transactions & Insolvency Committee and International Litigation Committee)
Program on Global Sourcing (Customs Law Committee)
Showcase Program on Protectionism (Canada Committee)
Google Book Search: Will it change book publishing, copyrights and class actions? (InternationalAntitrust Law Committee, International Intellectual Property Law Committee, Canada Committee andChina Committee)
For additional information, visit: http://www.abanet.org/intlaw/spring2010/.
M e x i c o C o m m i t t e e i s C o s p o n s o r i n g t h e f o l l o w i n gp r o g r a m s — A B A S I L 2 0 1 0 S p r i n g M e e t i n g i n N e w Y o r k ,N Y ( A p r i l 1 3 - 1 7 ) :
The Mexico Committee in cooperation with the Global Legal Skills Conference V is cosponsoring apresentation entitled, “Teaching NAFTA” by Leslie Alan Glick, vice chair of the Mexico Committee of theABA’s International Law Section and Mark E. Wojcik, John Marshall Law School, to be held in Monterrey,Mexico on February 25, 2010 at 10:30 am as Panel 19 of the conference.
For further information, visit: http://sites.google.com/site/globallegalskillsconferencev/ home/.
The Committee seeks also to organize a gathering of its members in Monterrey in conjunction with this event.
F e a t u r e d E v e n t : T e a c h i n g N A F T A — M o n t e r r e y ,M e x i c o ( F e b r u a r y 2 5 ) :
M e x i c o C o m m i t t e e ’ s P r o p o s a l s — A B A S I L 2 0 1 0 F a l lM e e t i n g i n P a r i s , F r a n c e ( N o v e m b e r 2 - 6 ) :
Various members of the Mexico Committee have collaborated in the preparation and submittal of severalproposals on the following topics:
Disputes Over International Water Resources
Navigating Lien Registry Systems: Best Practices in Europe and the Americas
Global Privacy and Data Protection
For additional information, visit: http://www.abanet.org/dch/committee.cfm?com=IC845000.
The Mexico Committee maintains its website withcurrent content on its activities, focused links forresearch on Mexican law, and relevant informationon emerging developments of Mexican law
The Mexico Committee proposes, organizes, andco-sponsors programs at the International LawSection’s spring and fall meetings, as well as standalone programs, brown bag lunches for membersin key cities, and teleconferences on topics ofMexican law
The Mexico Committee has a working group onMexico’s emerging Criminal Procedure Reform
The Mexico Committee has a working group onCompetition Law
Mexico Committee’s current projects:
MM E X I C OE X I C O UU P D A T EP D A T EABA ● Section of International Law ● Mexico Committee
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