Mexico's Congress advances a contentious bill to make all judges run for election

The lower house of Mexico’s Congress has approved contentious legislation that would launch the most sweeping judicial overhaul of the century by requiring all judges to stand for election. In a marathon session in which legislators were forced to meet in a gymnasium because protesters blocked the Congress building, congress approved the measure 359-135 in a first vote. The necessary second-round vote is expected to carry by a similar margin before it is sent to the Senate. Mexico’s ruling party says judges in the current court system are corrupt, and wants the country’s entire judicial branch _ some 7,000 judges – stand for election. Critics say it is a power-grab by the ruling party and a blow to the independence of the judiciary.