Ley Juarez

Ley Juárez (Juárez Law) was the first in a series of liberal "Reform Laws" enacted in Mexico in the mid-19th century. Promulgated on November 23, 1855, by President Juan Álvarez, it was primarily authored by Benito Juárez, who was then the Minister of Justice. The law was a cornerstone of the liberal movement called "La Reforma" and aimed to reduce the power of traditional, corporate institutions, specifically the Catholic Church and the military, to foster a more egalitarian and secular society. 

Primary Provision

The main provision of the Ley Juárez was the abolition of fueros (special legal exemptions or privileges). 

  • It restricted the right of military personnel and clergy members to be tried in their own special courts (military and ecclesiastical tribunals) for civil offenses.

  • Instead, all citizens, regardless of their military or religious status, would be subject to the same civil courts and laws, promoting the principle of equality before the law.

  • While it did not entirely eliminate the special courts, which retained jurisdiction over criminal cases for their members at that time, it was a major first step in dismantling the long-standing legal structure that favored the clergy and military elite. 

    Impact and Consequences

  • Secularization: It was a critical step in the broader effort to secularize the Mexican state and limit the immense political and economic influence of the Catholic Church.

  • Opposition: The law provoked a furious reaction from conservative factions, the military high command, and the Church hierarchy, who saw their traditional power being eroded.

  • Civil War: The intense opposition to the Ley Juárez and subsequent, more radical Reform Laws (like the Ley Lerdo, which forced the sale of Church lands) directly led to the bloody three-year War of Reform (1858-1861) between liberals and conservatives.

  • Constitutional Basis: The principles of the Ley Juárez were incorporated into the liberal Constitution of 1857, which ultimately provided the legal framework for the modern Mexican nation-state.