Hablemos de México: Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortiz Mena – The Role of the Judiciary in Mexico’s Democracy

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Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortiz Mena, born in Cuernavaca, Morelos, in 1969, is a Supreme Court Justice in Mexico. He holds a law degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and a master’s degree from Harvard Law School, with a specialization in international taxation supported by a Fulbright-García Robles scholarship.

From 1995 to 2012, he worked in private law practice and held various positions in Mexico’s federal administration, primarily in finance. In December 2012, he was appointed to the Supreme Court for a 15-year term, after being nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

In his judicial philosophy, Gutiérrez emphasizes interpreting Mexico’s Constitution in alignment with international human rights principles, often advocating for a liberal approach. He supports gender perspective in cases to address systemic discrimination and has ruled on cases involving gender equality, reproductive rights, police misconduct, and the non-discriminatory interpretation of sexual orientation rights.

He has also contributed significantly to rulings affirming women’s right to decide on abortion, rejecting penal laws that punish this choice. His approach to federalism and administrative law stresses deferring to local authorities and specialized agencies in interpreting laws. He also advocates for a discretionary approach in case selection for the Supreme Court, allowing for a focused constitutional agenda.