In a case that has sparked national outrage and raised serious questions about electoral oversight, Héctor Ulises Orduña Hernández was elected as a mixed jurisdiction judge in Poza Rica, Veracruz, despite being in preventive detention for alleged sexual abuse against his underage niece.
Orduña, a lawyer with over 20 years of experience, received more than 44,000 votes in Mexico’s first-ever judicial elections held on June 1, 2025. He was nominated by the federal executive branch and campaigned on a platform emphasizing judicial empathy and transparency. However, his candidacy has come under intense scrutiny following revelations that he has been incarcerated since April 6, 2025, facing charges of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor and possible links to child pornography investigations in the United States.
According to the Veracruz State Prosecutor’s Office, the alleged abuse occurred in 2021 inside a clinic in Poza Rica, where Orduña reportedly committed lascivious acts and forced the victim to watch explicit videos. The court imposed mandatory preventive detention as a precautionary measure, and the case remains under investigation.
The National Electoral Institute (INE) is now reviewing the legality of Orduña’s election. Under the “8 de 8 Contra la Violencia” initiative, candidates with histories of gender-based violence or unresolved legal proceedings may be disqualified. However, because Orduña has not yet been convicted, his victory has not been automatically annulled.
This incident has ignited debate over the safeguards—or lack thereof—in Mexico’s judicial selection process. Critics argue that the system failed to vet candidates adequately, while others stress the importance of due process. As the INE awaits confirmation of Orduña’s legal status, the case continues to unfold as a troubling intersection of justice, politics, and public trust.
With information from Animal Politico
