MEXICO’S Supreme Court dismissed a proposal on Tuesday to water down the scope of a judicial overhaul to make all judges stand for election.

The failed effort would have required only Supreme Court justices to compete in elections instead of all of the country’s judges as mandated in a constitutional change approved in September.

Seven out of 11 justices voted for limiting the scope, but a special majority of eight was required.

In a statement, the court emphasised that the ruling was not about the validity of the judicial overhaul, it only rejected the challenges from opposition political parties.

The decision came a week after eight justices tendered their resignations saying they will leave the court rather than compete in judicial elections scheduled for next June.

The court’s three other justices indicated they will compete in the elections.

Last week, Mexico’s Congress and a majority of state legislatures approved another constitutional change that protects constitutional amendments from legal challenges, but the Supreme Court said it didn’t apply in this case since the challenges were made before that change passed.

Before Tuesday’s ruling, thousands of people protested outside the court.

Some critics argue making all judges stand for election will politicise the judiciary.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has said the initiative will make judges more accountable and rid the courts of corruption.