García Luna's Defense Requests Oral Arguments at Second Circuit — Claims Proceedings Were 'Irreparably Tainted'

Defense attorneys for Genaro García Luna filed a request with the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals on April 6, 2026 for oral argument time in his appeal of the 38-year, 4-month conviction. Attorney Cesar de Castro argued the proceedings were 'irreparably tainted' by alleged withheld evidence and perjury by at least four prosecution witnesses. The Department of Justice countered the claims were 'untimely' and that the five-week trial sufficiently established García Luna's guilt. The appeal proposed hearing dates in May–August 2026. A Second Circuit ruling upholding or reversing the conviction will carry major implications for the historical assessment of the Calderón government and for future prosecutions of Latin American security officials in US courts.