A new scandal has erupted in Spain involving the country’s judicial system. Three judges who convicted the Attorney General, Álvaro García Ortiz, have come under intense scrutiny after revelations of their participation in a paid educational course. The event was organized by the Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Madrid (ICAM), which was also one of the prosecuting parties in the case against the Attorney General. This connection has provoked a strong reaction from Spain’s major political forces.
Representatives of PSOE and Sumar have openly criticized the fact that presiding judge Andrés Martínez Arrieta, along with judges Juan Ramón Berdugo and Antonio del Moral, took part in the event and received payment for their participation. They argue that such conduct calls the impartiality of the verdict into question and undermines public trust in the judiciary.
Particularly controversial was the timing: the judges’ participation in the course coincided with the deliberation and drafting of the García Ortiz verdict. In an audio recording made public, the presiding judge explicitly mentioned the need to finalize the verdict, further fueling suspicions of bias.
Political backlash and demands for answers
In parliament, representatives from the socialists and left-wing parties demanded clarification from the judges. Patxi López, speaking in Congress, stated that without transparent explanations, suspicions about the objectivity of the verdict would persist. He was supported by Sumar MP and Izquierda Unida representative Enrique Santiago, who described the court president’s behavior as unacceptable and emphasized that these circumstances could serve as arguments for García Ortiz’s defense in future court proceedings, including the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
Santiago also noted that the judges should have recused themselves from the course to avoid any potential conflict of interest. According to him, their actions appear unethical and raise concerns about the transparency of the judicial process. The politician pledged to find out since when and to what extent the judges received payments from ICAM, as well as how long their cooperation with this organization is set to last.
Details of the judges’ participation in the course
It is known that the educational events took place from November 14 to 25, with the judges delivering lectures on the 17th, 18th, and 19th—precisely when the verdict in the García Ortiz case was being discussed. Court president Martínez Arrieta gave a lecture on appeals in criminal cases and received 180 euros for it. Antonio del Moral, in addition to his participation, served as the director of the entire course. Juan Ramón Berdugo also delivered a presentation.
Particular attention was drawn to the fact that ICAM not only organized the course but also initiated the first lawsuit against the prosecutor’s office and served as the prosecution in the trial. Critics argue that this raises concerns about the independence and impartiality of the judges involved in the event.
Public reaction and next steps
Since the verdict was announced, Sumar representatives have repeatedly cast doubt on its fairness, calling the court’s decision unjust and targeting an innocent person. The situation was further inflamed by the fact that news of the verdict became public before the official judicial decision was published.
Questions remain for the judges: politicians are demanding full transparency and explanations, and the public is closely following developments. New statements, and possibly official investigations into the actions of the judges at the center of this high-profile case, are expected soon.
