The Emergence of Anthropological Expertise in the Electoral Court of the Federal Judiciary, Mexico

Beyond an external and distant academic position, the question raised is: what happens when an anthropologist brings their knowledge into the legal structures and discourses circulated in the courts? The objective of this article is to reflect, from anthropological and legal perspectives, on the impact of anthropological expertise in the Federal Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF). The study of judicial courts is a growing field within legal anthropology. We historicize the emergence of expert testimony in electoral justice. We then ethnographically analyze judgments in the electoral judicial field involving indigenous and native peoples and communities in relation to their political and electoral rights. From this perspective, we reflect on a set of relevant criteria issued by the Regional Chambers of the TEPJF in order to analyze the scope and limits of this means of evidence.

Keywords:
Anthropological Expertise; Electoral Justice; Judicial Courts; Anthropology of Law