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Content: Constitution of
      1857. LEY JUAREZ,
        a Mexican law abolishing military and ecclesiastical FUEROS (privileges)
        named for Benito JUAREZ, its principal author. The law, dated 11 November
        1855,
        was promulgated by President Juan ALVAREZ, while Juarez was his minister
        of justice. The law contained seventy-seven main articles that had
        the effect of abolishing all special tribunals except the military and
        ecclesiastical courts. Although the Ley Juarez did not abolish these
        courts, it did end the military and ecclesiastical fueros in civil
        cases. Priests and military officers could no longer change the venue
        of trials for civil of-fenses to the ecclesiastical or military courts. Sinkin argues that the law accepted the basic corporate structure
        of society and did not abolish the entire fuero system since the church
        courts retained the right to hear criminal cases. As the first of
        the Reform Laws, the Ley Juarez was approved as part of the Constitution
        of 1857. LEY LERDO, a Mexican law disamortizing church property, named for
      Miguel LERDO DE TEJADA, its principal author. The law was promulgated 25
      June 1856, while Lerdo served as finance minister for President Ignacio
      COMONFORT.