A cross-border judicial exchange: San Bernardino Superior Court visits the Poder Judicial de Baja California

On Oct. 4, 2024, the San Bernardino Superior Court and the Inland Empire Hispanic Bar Association visited the Poder Judicial de Baja California (Superior Court of Justice of Baja California) in Mexicali, Mexico. This binational gathering was organized by San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Joseph T. Ortiz, as part of the Court's Elimination of Bias Committee efforts. This visit aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the justice system in Baja California, Mexico. In attendance were San Bernardino Superior Court Presiding Judge Lisa M. Rogan, Assistant Presiding Judge Rod Cortez, Riverside Superior Court Judge Otis Sterling, San Bernardino Superior Court Executive Officer Anabel Z. Romero, Pablo Ramirez, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino, and members of the Inland Empire Hispanic Bar Association.

The day's agenda was thoughtfully structured to provide a comprehensive overview of Baja California's judicial processes, including their new oral justice reform (Nueva Justicia Oral). The visit began with an introduction to the buildings representing the three branches of government, followed by an official welcome by Magistrate (Magistrado), Salvador Juan Ortiz Morales, on behalf of the Magistrate President (Magistrado Presidente) of the Superior Court of Justice, Alejandro Isaac Fragozo Lopez. The group then received an in-depth presentation on the judicial system in Baja California by Judges Herman Álvarez, Cecilia Osuna, and Odette Tapia, covering Civil, Family, and Criminal Law.

A guided tour of the Central Building of the Superior Court of Justice and the Oral Criminal Justice Center gave the group a firsthand look at the facilities and operations. Judicial Administrator Marcos Pérez led the tour and offered insights into the functioning of the hearing rooms, including the recording of oral proceedings, and ongoing justice reform efforts.

During the visit, the group learned that the Poder Judicial de Baja California bench is comprised of 17 magistrates (magistrados), nine of whom are women. The commitment and passion of these magistrates to serve the community and ensure access to justice is accessible to anyone who needs it was inspiring. The group was particularly impressed by the ongoing justice reform initiatives, which include the implementation of oral hearings, increased transparency to case hearings, and a planned transition to an electronic file system, for the entire Nation, in the coming years. We learned that they employ a no-cash bail system and rely on pretrial release as determined by a judge. Defendants are required to appear before a judge within 24 hours of arrest. Mexico does not have a jury system. Instead, it relies on codified law and formal procedures for the disposition of cases.

Upon conclusion of the tour, our members were encouraged to pose questions and offer suggestions to further advance their system. The binational educational exchange revealed that while our justice systems are in many ways different, they are also similar. The aligned passion to provide access to justice is one that without a doubt unites us. This visit deepened our understanding of the judicial processes in Baja California, eliminated preconceived notions and laid the groundwork for future educational exchanges between the two legal communities.

Everyone who participated was impressed with the professionalism, dedication, and commitment to public service and justice reform of The Poder Judicial de Baja California.