Alumni profile - Ximena Jiménez García

28 May 2026

Ximena graduated from Queen Mary with a Master of Laws in 2023 and is the youngest Federal Appeal Judge in Mexico. Elected last year through Mexico’s first merit-based judicial elections, she serves in Mexico City’s administrative appeals court, where she is helping improve efficiency and case resolution.

In this blog, she reflects on her journey from studying at Queen Mary to becoming the youngest Federal Appeal Judge in Mexico, highlighting her academic experience, time in London and her career progression within the Mexican judiciary. She also discusses the impact of judicial reform and her commitment to strengthening access to justice.

 

Why did you choose to study a master's degree in law at Queen Mary?

I chose to pursue my LL.M. at Queen Mary because it was inspired by the path taken by colleagues and professors I deeply admired. In researching my options, I found Queen Mary to be one of the UK’s leading universities, combining academic excellence with a strong commitment to socially relevant issues.

What particularly drew me was the calibre of the faculty, as well as the University’s diversity. Studying alongside peers and professors from different jurisdictions enriched my perspective on comparative law, through discussions on topics such as abortion regulation, the death penalty, animal protection and responses to regional challenges like femicide, among others.

What aspects of your degree did you find most enjoyable and was there anything that surprised you in your studies?

One of the aspects I most enjoyed about the General LL.M. was the flexibility to design my own curriculum. This allowed me to build a well-rounded combination of human rights, criminal law and comparative law, closely aligned with my professional interests.

I also appreciated how current and forward-looking the programme was. We engaged with emerging issues such as cybercrime, deepfakes and the misuse of artificial intelligence, as well as ongoing global challenges like human trafficking and migration.

A particularly rewarding experience was working as a research assistant to Dr Ruth Fletcher, a leading scholar in medical law. Our work on abortion time limits enabled me to explore new dimensions of the debate and reflect on how legal frameworks may need to evolve in Mexico.

What are some your fondest memories of your time at Queen Mary?

My fondest memories of Queen Mary centre on the people I met. What began as classroom interactions quickly grew into meaningful friendships, continuing our legal discussions in pubs, travelling together and building connections that have lasted well beyond the programme. To this day, we stay in touch, visiting each other’s countries and sharing local experiences.

I also valued being part of the football and futsal clubs. Despite the age differences, we formed a close-knit team, and travelling for matches gave me the opportunity to explore other parts of England.

Living in London was a life-changing experience; an intense, vibrant city that has left a lasting impression on me.

Living in London was a life-changing experience; an intense, vibrant city that has left a lasting impression on me.

Can you tell us about your career journey since graduating?

Returning to Mexico after my LL.M. was both rewarding and challenging, as it required readjusting professionally after time abroad. I was able to continue the judicial career I had been building since 2018, having previously worked as a legal consultant at the Mexican Supreme Court. Importantly, my experience at Queen Mary gave me the confidence to face new challenges with greater clarity as well as a deeper understanding of the law in its broader social context.

After graduating, I transitioned into a new phase within the judiciary, joining an appellate court as a legal consultant to one of Mexico’s leading judges, Fabiana Estrada Tena. This experience allowed me to deepen my understanding of judicial review and decision-making at a higher level.

In 2024, a significant judicial reform transformed the system, introducing the election of judges. This raised important questions about the future of judicial independence and performance, while also aiming to address longstanding concerns such as nepotism and corruption. In this context and inspired by mentors and colleagues I admire, I decided to stand as a candidate.

The process lasted nearly a year, involving application, assessment, preparation, campaigning and ultimately awaiting the results.

You recently became the youngest Federal Appeal Judge in Mexico, what motivated you to stand as a candidate and how have you found the role so far?

Becoming a judge has been my goal since I began my judicial career in 2018. My decision to stand as a candidate was shaped by a combination of factors: a strong sense of professional purpose, the context created by the judicial reform and the encouragement of mentors I deeply respect.

I've always believed in Mexico’s potential, but I've also been aware of the areas where meaningful improvement is needed. It remains a deeply unequal country, where access to justice is not always guaranteed for everyone. Too often it depends on resources or influence. At the same time, Mexico has committed to a broad range of international human rights treaties, yet significant gaps persist in their effective implementation. I'm convinced that the justice system plays a central role in closing that gap and making rights truly meaningful in people’s lives.

We are at a pivotal moment in which there is a real opportunity to strengthen the rule of law and rebuild public trust in institutions. That sense of responsibility strongly motivated me to take part in this process.

As for the role itself, it has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. I'm fortunate to work alongside a highly capable team, composed not only of skilled professionals but of people who share a common vision of justice. It's a position that demands great care and responsibility in every decision as well as a firm commitment to resolving cases efficiently. I believe that justice delayed is justice denied and that principle guides my work every day.

We are at a pivotal moment in which there is a real opportunity to strengthen the rule of law and rebuild public trust in institutions.

What has been a project or achievement in your career that you’re particularly proud of?

One of the achievements I'm most proud of is the collective work carried out within our Court. Thanks to that shared effort, we've become the administrative appellate court in Mexico City with the lowest backlog, resolving cases typically within one to two months.

We're particularly mindful that many of the matters reaching us have already undergone lengthy proceedings. For that reason, efficiency is essential but it never comes at the expense of quality. On the contrary, we hold ourselves to very high standards in every decision we issue.

I'm especially proud of the impact of our work in cases involving access to pensions for elders, compensation for harm caused by public institutions or hospitals and matters concerning gender-based violence. These cases reflect the real human dimension of justice and the importance of ensuring effective access to it.

What advice would you give to current students who hope to pursue careers in public service, particularly those interested in making an impact through the law?

My advice would be to pursue this path with both conviction and clarity of purpose. A career in public service is not always easy, those in the legal field often work under constant scrutiny and pressure, but it is also deeply meaningful. There is a unique sense of responsibility, and privilege, in contributing to fair and just solutions that have a real impact on people’s lives.

If you feel certain about this path, it's essential to build and maintain strong core values. Integrity, independence and a genuine commitment to justice must guide your decisions, particularly in challenging moments. Technical excellence is important, but it must be accompanied by a clear ethical foundation.

Remain open to learning and to understanding the social realities behind the law. The ability to connect legal reasoning with human experience is what ultimately allows you to make a meaningful difference.