Mexico's controversial judicial reform requiring direct election of judges and magistrates emerged mostly unscathed on Tuesday from a Supreme Court vote on whether it violated the country's constitution.

The move spares the country’s new president from having to choose between recognizing a court decision to strike down the overhaul or aligning with her party’s leaders and ignoring it.

Mexico’s Supreme Court has dismissed a proposal to reduce the scope of a contentious judicial overhaul making all judges stand for election.

Mexico's Supreme Court fell short in a vote on Tuesday to invalidate part of a controversial judicial reform passed by lawmakers in September that requires the election of all judges over the next few years.

Eight of 11 justices on Mexico’s Supreme Court have resigned and declined to participate in an election for the court scheduled for June, the court said on Wednesday.

More resignations are expected to follow, along with a pending ruling on the validity of the reform, setting the stage for a possible constitutional battle.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the country's Supreme Court on Monday for overstepping its authority as it weighs whether to deem part of a recently-enacted judicial reform unconstitutional.

Mexico's Supreme Court began debating the constitutionality of a controversial judicial overhaul on Tuesday, nearly two months after lawmakers passed the reform that would require the election of all judges over the next few years.