Mexican Congress approves judicial reform, but nixes searchs without warrants

By E. Eduardo Castillo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
8:36 p.m. February 26, 2008

MEXICO CITY – Mexico's lower house of Congress on Tuesday approved a sweeping judicial reform that would introduce public, oral trials and guarantee the presumption of innocence, but lawmakers deleted a proposal to allow police to search homes without a warrant.

In the 462-6 vote with two abstentions, legislators approved the reform bill, which would also allow information from recorded phone calls to be used as evidence in criminal cases if at least one of the conversation's participants agrees.

The reform must still be approved by the Senate and then by at least 17 of Mexico's 31 states.

The original proposal, submitted last year, would have allowed police to enter homes without a judge's warrant if they believed a person's life or safety were in danger, or if a crime was being committed inside.

But human rights groups harshly criticized the proposed expansion of police powers, and legislators finally agreed to drop that clause.

In case you were unaware, in Mexico, if you are accused of a crime, it is your responsibility to prove you are innocent. The state does not have you prove you guilty because, in Mexico, you are guilty until proven innocent. -mm