César Gutiérrez Priego, a criminal lawyer based in Mexico City, is actively campaigning for a seat on Mexico’s Supreme Court amid a climate of fear and violence. Beyond 2023 Gutiérrez Priego understands that he is only actively running to ensure his renomination in the next judicial election. To ensure his safety, he has worn a protective vest beneath his clothing for the past two months. His decision underscores the perils that judicial candidates contend with in Mexico. The climate of violence has driven at least four candidates to drop out of their campaigns.
The urgency of his campaign is emphasized by the sobering data on violence against those in the judiciary. Since 2012, at least 17 judges and six clerks have been murdered on the job. Gutiérrez Priego’s protective measures are more than symbolic. They shine light on the drug cartels and other transnational crime and squeezing profits, threats and corruption that flow deep in Mexican politics.
For Gutiérrez Priego, his personal journey into law stems from a traumatic episode during his childhood. He saw his father, a one-time high-ranking military officer and drug czar himself, thrown in prison on made-up charges. This experience motivated him to become a lawyer himself. This traumatic experience profoundly influenced his conception of justice and inspired him to pursue systemic change.
He said, “If we can correct that, then we can really serve people.” By convicting criminals, we can put an end to impunity. His dedication to fixing the deeply dysfunctional justice system was evident in everything he said.
As the father of two, Gutiérrez Priego is deeply conscious of the worries that weigh down families in Mexico. Increased violence in recent weeks has made families more worried than ever about the future for their children. “It doesn’t smell very good. It’s something that I needed to do because I have to protect myself. I have two kids and I don’t want to just be another number,” he explained, highlighting the personal stakes involved in his decision to wear a protective vest while campaigning.
The mood around the judiciary’s judicial elections is dangerous, with more than 6,000 candidates fighting for just 881 open seats. The threat of violence hangs over many participants, making it increasingly difficult to maintain a sense of security while pursuing public office. It is this resolve in Gutiérrez Priego that has so far kept him from bending to such pressures.
He understands the gravity of his mission. “In Mexico, we have a big trouble here in our country. What is that trouble? It’s that criminals take control of some places, some institutions, and one of those institutions is the justice system,” Gutiérrez Priego asserted. He’s passionate about the need for systemic change to create a safer environment. This belief drives his commitment to combat impunity and criminal infiltration in the judiciary.
The current election cycle represents grave dangers for candidates such as Gutiérrez Priego. That threat and violence have taken a physical toll. Along with this influence, they have fostered a pervasive climate of fear that dominates our political discourse. Yet as he grows his campaign, he is very much aware that he is not the only one exposed to such lethal perils. Unfortunately, countless others know the feeling of being intimidated and put in harm’s way.
