The last minute of the day: Supra-inclusive interpretation and effective judicial protection in Mexican online trials

Abstract

The article analyzes the legal issues raised by the calculation of procedural deadlines in electronic justice systems, particularly the case in which a lawsuit was dismissed because it was filed at “00:00 hours” through the Online Justice System of the Federal Court of Administrative Justice (TFJA). This event raises an interpretative dilemma involving the tension between procedural formalism and the principle of effective judicial protection. Based on the theory of legal argumentation, an interpretation is proposed that guarantees rights in accordance with Article 17 of the Constitution, in which the time of “00:00 hours” should be understood as the last moment of the expiration date. The aim is to harmonize legal certainty with effective access to justice in the digital context.