Former Tijuana civil court judge María de Lourdes Molina failed to appear at her criminal charges hearing on Friday, May 8, marking the second time the proceeding has been postponed. Her defense attorneys again cited security concerns, arguing that conditions at the courthouse could not guarantee her safety.
The hearing, scheduled at Sala 1 of the Tijuana courthouse, was deferred without a new date being immediately announced. The same justification was used to excuse Molina’s absence at the previous hearing on March 20.
A Pattern of Postponements
The proceeding in question is known in Mexican law as a “formulación de imputación,” the formal step in which prosecutors present criminal charges against a defendant before a judge. It is a critical early phase in Mexico’s accusatory criminal justice system, and the defendant is typically required to be present.
Molina’s legal team has now successfully blocked the hearing twice in roughly seven weeks. On both occasions, her attorneys argued that the security environment surrounding the courthouse made it unsafe for the former judge to attend. They did not publicly specify the nature of the threats or provide details about what security measures would be sufficient.
Security Concerns at Tijuana Courts
Tijuana’s judicial facilities operate under heightened tension. The city has long been one of Mexico’s most dangerous for public officials, lawyers, and members of the judiciary. Threats against judges, prosecutors, and witnesses are a persistent problem in Baja California’s criminal justice system.
Still, the repeated use of security concerns to delay a charges hearing raises questions about how long proceedings can be stalled before the court demands Molina’s presence or considers alternatives such as a closed hearing or remote appearance.
The specific criminal allegations against Molina have not been detailed in public reporting, as the formal charges have yet to be read in open court. Until the “formulación de imputación” takes place, the precise accusations remain part of the prosecutor’s case file.
What Comes Next
The Tijuana court will need to reschedule the hearing for a third time. It remains unclear whether prosecutors or the presiding judge will push back against further deferrals or impose conditions to ensure Molina appears.
The case was first reported by Zeta Tijuana.