SCJN Reopens 2018 Sentence Ordering Independent Ayotzinapa Truth Commission

Mexico's Supreme Court (SCJN) unanimously agreed on July 7, 2026 to exercise its 'facultad de atracción' over four extraordinary review appeals (case SEFA 331/2026), reopening discussion of a final 2018 ruling that ordered creation of an independent Investigation and Truth Commission for the Iguala case. The 2018 sentence had found the original 'verdad histórica' investigation was tainted by torture and serious human rights violations, and mandated a commission with FGR, CNDH, and victim-family participation. The review was requested by the Legal Counsel of the Presidency, arguing legal and material impossibility of complying with the sentence. Justice Sara Irene Herrerías Guerra recused herself, since the underlying criminal investigation falls under a unit she previously headed. Civil society organizations including Centro Prodh warned the extraordinary review mechanism is not expressly provided for in the Constitution or Amparo Law and risks reopening a final judgment issued eight years ago, prolonging legal uncertainty for victims' families rather than accelerating justice.