Monterrey, Mexico
Lawmakers in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon agreed last week to make their courts more like American ones. Late this year, prosecutors and defense lawyers will begin arguing their cases in public courtrooms. Traditionally, attorneys have submitted papers to a judge, who ruled from behind closed doors. President Vicente Fox has proposed similar reforms at the national level to repair the tattered reputation of Mexican justice, which has suffered from years of accusations of brutality and corruption. Gov. Natividad Gonzalez said eliminating the element of secrecy would help restore the public’s trust. “This is an act without precedent in our state and in our country,” Gonzalez said.
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