Baja California’s state legislature unanimously approved three budget expansion measures on July 2 to fund new courtrooms, building leases, and salary increases for the state Judicial Branch.
The votes, taken during a plenary session of the state Congress, cover three distinct needs: leasing space for courts that will implement Mexico’s new National Code of Civil and Family Procedures starting August 17, equipping two new appellate chambers in Playas de Rosarito, and raising pay for 36 forensic medical examiners across the state.
New Appellate Courts Coming to Rosarito
Two new appellate chambers will open in Rosarito, expanding court capacity along the Tijuana-Rosarito corridor. The budget includes funding for office equipment and furnishings for the chambers. Until now, residents of Rosarito who needed to appear before an appellate court had to travel to Tijuana or other cities with existing facilities.
The expansion is part of a broader effort by the state Judicial Branch to decentralize court services. Rosarito, located about 20 miles south of Tijuana, has seen steady population growth in recent years, including a growing community of foreign residents and cross-border commuters.
New Civil and Family Procedure Code Takes Effect August 17
A separate portion of the budget covers building leases required to implement the new National Code of Civil and Family Procedures, known in Spanish as the Código Nacional de Procedimientos Civiles y Familiares. The code takes effect nationwide on August 17 and overhauls how civil and family cases are processed in Mexican courts.
The new code could affect anyone involved in property disputes, divorce proceedings, custody cases, or civil litigation under Mexican jurisdiction. Courts across Baja California need additional physical space to handle the procedural changes the code introduces.
Pay Raises for 36 Forensic Medical Examiners
The third measure approved by the legislature provides salary increases for 36 forensic medical examiners who work within the Judicial Branch. These doctors perform autopsies, conduct expert assessments in criminal investigations, and carry out evaluations under the Istanbul Protocol, an international standard used to document evidence of torture.
Forensic examiners play a central role in homicide investigations and criminal prosecutions across Baja California, one of Mexico’s states with the highest rates of violent crime. The pay increases aim to improve retention and attract qualified professionals to positions that have historically been difficult to fill.
All three measures passed unanimously, with no opposition votes recorded. The story was first reported by La Jornada Baja California.