Baja Lawyers Demand Answers as 15 Attorney Killings Remain Unsolved

The head of the Baja California Bar Association says state police have failed to solve any of the violent deaths of lawyers in the last two years.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 11:36pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a lawyer's briefcase with a shattered lock, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually illustrates the threats facing the legal profession in Baja California.The unsolved killings of lawyers in Baja California expose the dangerous realities facing the legal community in the region.San Diego Today

The president of the Baja California Bar Association, David Jesús Rincón Rey, has condemned the failure of state police to solve any of the 15 violent deaths of lawyers that have occurred in the state over the last two years. Rincón Rey says the cases are often dismissed as crime-related without proper investigation, and that lawyers are increasingly exposed to threats and violence just for doing their jobs.

Why it matters

The high number of unsolved killings of lawyers in Baja California raises serious concerns about the rule of law and the safety of legal professionals in the region. Lawyers play a critical role in upholding the justice system, and their targeted killings could have a chilling effect on the legal community and access to justice for citizens.

The details

According to Rincón Rey, during the previous governor's six-year term from 2013-2019, 12 lawyers were killed, compared to more than 15 during the last four years under the current governor. Rincón Rey says the police often dismiss the cases as being crime-related without proper investigation, and that "rumors circulate" suggesting the lawyers were involved in criminal activities like drug trafficking or money laundering. The Bar Association is now pushing for measures to protect threatened lawyers, such as providing bulletproof vests.

  • Over the last two years, 15 lawyers have been violently killed in Baja California.
  • During the 2013-2019 term of former governor Francisco Vega, 12 lawyers were killed.
  • During the 2019-2021 term of former governor Jaime Bonilla, 5 attorneys were killed.
  • The current governor, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, has been in office for the last four years.

The players

David Jesús Rincón Rey

The president of the Baja California Bar Association.

Francisco Vega

The former governor of Baja California from 2013-2019.

Jaime Bonilla

The former governor of Baja California from 2019-2021.

Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda

The current governor of Baja California, who has been in office for the last four years.

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What they’re saying

“In none of these cases have they told us why they were murdered. Instead of possible motives behind the various murders, only justifications exist.”

— David Jesús Rincón Rey, President of the Baja California Bar Association

“Rumors circulate, or are simply tossed around, suggesting they were likely involved in drug trafficking, laundering money, or that they had four wives. There is always a pretext, lawyers are not saints, nor do they aspire to be.”

— David Jesús Rincón Rey, President of the Baja California Bar Association

“Nowadays, we are exposed even for handling a divorce, serving as a business owner's attorney, or filing for alimony.”

— David Jesús Rincón Rey, President of the Baja California Bar Association

“We are requesting measures such as the use of bulletproof vests, because some of these threats have actually materialized. We have grown accustomed to violence in our daily routines, we consider it normal — however, we realize that this is not normal.”

— David Jesús Rincón Rey, President of the Baja California Bar Association

What’s next

The Baja California Bar Association is continuing to push for greater protection and investigation into the killings of lawyers in the state.

The takeaway

The high number of unsolved killings of lawyers in Baja California highlights the dangerous environment legal professionals face in the region and the urgent need for the authorities to take these crimes seriously, conduct thorough investigations, and provide better security measures to protect the legal community.