Dominican Republic and Mexico grapple with court enforcement failures

In the Dominican Republic, the execution of final court judgments often becomes a prolonged ordeal. Although Law 396‑19 authorises the Ministry of Public Safety to enforce rulings, the Supreme Court ruled that the judiciary, not the ministry, holds that power. Complications arise when enforcement requests must be filed before 2027 and cases—especially evictions—can extend beyond a decade, as illustrated by a fifteen‑year dispute that still awaits enforcement.

In Mexico, the international arbitration panel found the state had denied fair and timely justice to Canadian investor Lion Mexico Consolidated. The tribunal ruled Mexico violated NAFTA’s fair‑treatment standards, ordering a payment of roughly $47 million (later reported as $77 million) plus costs. On 7 April 2026 the DC Court of Appeals upheld the award, highlighting systemic delays and procedural irregularities in Mexico’s courts that harmed investors and eroded confidence in the legal system.