El Chapo’s Former Lawyer Could Become Judge in Chihuahua

Chihuahua, Mexico – Silvia Rocío Delgado García, a former lawyer for notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, may soon become a local criminal judge in Chihuahua. She is currently leading in the approval rating with 80% of votes counted.

Miguel Alfonso Meza, president of the organization Defensxs, shared the news via social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He stated that Delgado is in second place among candidates competing for 49 criminal judge positions available in the district.

Seven of those positions are specifically for judges specializing in drug offenses. Defensxs conducted an evaluation of all candidates for the judiciary and highlighted Delgado’s profile in a section called “Justicia en la mira.” This initiative aims to prevent the Federal Judiciary from being influenced by criminal interests.

According to their assessment, Delgado’s nomination is considered highly risky. Defensxs noted that she has represented suspected drug traffickers and lacks prior judicial experience.

Delgado was involved in El Chapo’s defense team beginning in August 2016. She worked as a liaison with Guzmán, coordinating with other attorneys to review legal appeals. In December 2016, she famously filed a motion requesting extra blankets for Guzmán due to cold conditions in his detention center in Ciudad Juárez.

In early 2017, she claimed that a prison guard was harassing El Chapo during searches, although another attorney later denied allegations of sexual harassment from Guzmán. Meza stated, “The only thing that may stop her candidacy at this point is legal action. We’re urging other candidates to challenge her eligibility.”

In April 2025, Delgado claimed in an interview that she has “an impeccable record” and called her work defending El Chapo an “honor rather than a stigma.”