Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda named Claudia Yurizeth Torres Molina as the state’s new Legal Counsel (Consejera Jurídica) on April 15. Torres Molina replaces Juan José Pon Méndez, who moved last week to lead the Secretaría General de Gobierno, the state’s top administrative office.
The appointment represents an internal promotion. Torres Molina previously served as director of Baja California’s Public Defender’s Office (Defensoría Pública), which operates under the Legal Counsel’s office. Her rise from within the same agency gives her direct familiarity with the department she now leads.
What the Legal Counsel’s Office Does
The Consejera Jurídica serves as the governor’s chief legal adviser. The office oversees the legal framework of state governance, reviews legislation, and manages public defense services for Baja California residents who cannot afford private attorneys. It is a cabinet-level position based in Mexicali, the state capital.
Torres Molina takes on the role during a period of reshuffling in the governor’s inner circle. Pon Méndez’s move to the Secretaría General de Gobierno followed the earlier departure of Alfredo Álvarez from that same post. The Secretaría General functions as the chief operating office for the state government, coordinating between agencies and managing political affairs.
A Pattern of Internal Promotions
Governor Ávila Olmeda, who took office in November 2021 as Baja California’s first female governor, has made several cabinet changes during her administration. The decision to promote Torres Molina from within the Legal Counsel’s office follows a pattern of elevating officials already embedded in state agencies rather than bringing in outside appointments.
Baja California’s current gubernatorial term runs through October 2027. The cabinet changes come roughly halfway through the administration’s tenure, a common point for governors to reconfigure their teams.
The appointment was first reported by Punto Norte.