Mexico chief justice says he faces anti-Indigenous bias

Hugo Aguilar, Mexico's Supreme Court chief justice, said he faces discrimination every day because of his Indigenous roots, while rejecting claims that he is politically beholden to the country's leftist government.

Aguilar is the first Indigenous Mexican to preside over Mexico's top court in 168 years. He said a voting reform that made judges subject to popular election allowed him to reach the post.

"Without the reform, I wouldn't be here," said Aguilar, 53, who comes from San Agustin Tlacotepec, an Indigenous Mixtec town in Oaxaca state.

Aguilar rejected accusations that he is a pawn of governments led by former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and current President Claudia Sheinbaum. He said criticism of him focuses on his appearance rather than his work and is directed at him because he is Indigenous.

Mexico's opposition and some experts have criticised Sheinbaum's reform, saying it politicises the judiciary. Aguilar said he opposed politicisation of the court and urged patience with efforts to address corruption in the justice system.