'El Chapo' judge assassinated while jogging outside his home

The judge who presided over appeals by drug cartel Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman (pictured) was assassinated outside his home. Photo / AP

A Mexican judge who presided over appeals by drug cartel figures including Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has been assassinated while jogging outside his home.

Judge Vicente Bermudez, 37, was executed by a gunman who ran up and shot him in the back of the head.

The killing happened in Metepec, 40 miles from Mexico City, and was captured by a surveillance camera.

The footage showed the assassin, dressed in dark clothing, running up behind the judge and firing before fleeing the scene.

According to local reports the judge was rushed to hospital but could not be saved. He had dealt with legal challenges brought by lawyers representing Guzman, the head of the Sinaloa drug cartel.

The judge had also dealt with appeals by lawyers on behalf of Miguel Trevino, ex-leader of the Zetas cartel. Trevino is being held at the maximum security Altiplano jail which is close to the judge's home.

Guzman was previously held there but was recently transferred to a jail near Ciudad Juarez.

According to one local report the judge had not been given any protection Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said in a televised speech that he had ordered his attorney general to investigate the murder.

Guzman's lawyers have filed numerous legal challenges aimed at preventing his extradition to the United States.