General Information

The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (SCJN) is the highest federal court in the United Mexican States. It consists of a President of the Supreme Court (Chief Justice) and ten Ministers (Associate Justices) who are confirmed by the Senate from a list proposed by the President of the Republic.

Additional Information

Justices of the SCJN serve for fifteen years and are not eligible to serve a second term. From among their number, the justices elect the President of the Court to serve a four-year period; a given justice may serve more than one term as president, but not in consecutive periods.

The Court Building: Highlights

The Court itself is located just off the main plaza of Mexico City on the corners of Pino Suarez and Carranza Streets. It was built between 1935 and 1941 by Antonio Muñoz Garcia.

The Court Building: Explained

The interior of the building contains four panels painted in 1941 by José Clemente Orozco, two of which are named “The Social Labour Movement” and “National Wealth”. There is also one mural done by American artist George Biddle entitled “War and Peace” at the entrance to the library.

The building also contains a mural by Rafael Cauduro, graphically illustrating the tortures of Mexican police, and includes a depiction of the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre as well as a cutaway of a prison, perhaps the infamous Black Palace of Lecumberri where the student leaders who escaped death were jailed.

While this building is still the main home of the Court, an alternative site on Avenida Revolución was established in 2002.