Judicial Council Suspends Performance Evaluation Deal After Strike

The full council of Mexico's Judicial Administration Council repealed General Agreement AG-POAJ-025/2026 on Monday. The agreement had sought to regulate performance evaluations for career staff of the Federal Judiciary.

Judicial workers launched a nationwide strike last weekend, arguing the process threatened their labor rights and job security. At least 50 courts and federal tribunals remained closed as of Monday due to the protests.

“The abrogation of the Agreement is made in compliance with the agreements reached on Saturday, November 7, with the three unions of the Federal Judiciary.”

On Saturday, Supreme Court President Hugo Aguilar Ortiz led negotiations with OAJ head Néstor Vargas and leaders of three judicial unions. The parties agreed that evaluations would aim to strengthen efficiency, effectiveness, and quality in the administration of justice.

The council committed to permanently removing any language suggesting evaluations could carry sanctions or lead to dismissal. Extraordinary evaluations requested by officeholders will also be eliminated, and subjective factors such as peer opinions will be adjusted.

The abrogated agreement was published in the Federal Official Gazette on November 5. The council pledged to publish substantive modifications to the agreement in the same gazette as soon as possible.

Workers in Toluca were among those who held mobilizations across various states. The strike began on November 6 after the agreement's application generated concern among judicial employees.