In the coming years, Spain’s judicial system will undergo significant renewal: by 2026, the creation of 500 new judge positions is planned. This move could greatly impact court operations, speed up case processing, and improve citizens’ access to justice. The Ministry of Justice insists on the urgent launch of a fourth recruitment round for experienced lawyers to prevent staffing shortages and ensure the effective functioning of the judicial system.
Conflicting assessments
The Ministry of Justice has called on the Council of Judges (CGPJ) to immediately announce a fourth recruitment for highly experienced lawyers. According to the ministry, this is the only way to promptly fill all the new vacancies. However, disagreements have arisen between the ministry and the Council regarding the required number of positions: the authorities believe 781 judges are needed, while the Council estimates the shortage at only 230. This difference in assessments may lead to delays in launching the recruitment process and complicate the renewal of the judicial body.
In a letter to the Council, the Ministry emphasizes that the funding process for open competition for judicial and prosecutorial careers in 2024 has already begun. It also notes that part of these funds could be used to organize the new recruitment via the fourth route in 2026. The authorities are demanding precise data from the Council on how many openings will be available for experienced lawyers to avoid a future shortage of specialists.
Urgency and consequences
Verónica Ollé, Director of Justice Public Service Efficiency, stressed the urgent need to address the issue of creating new positions. According to her, only prompt action will prevent court overload and ensure citizens’ cases are heard in a timely manner. The Ministry emphasizes that the launch of the fourth intake is solely within the competence of the Judicial Council, and this process can be coordinated quickly.
If the competition announcement is delayed, Spain risks facing a serious shortage of judicial staff. This could increase the time required to process cases, add pressure on current judges, and lower the quality of justice. Authorities insist that only an immediate launch of the procedure will help avoid these consequences and maintain the stability of the judicial system amid rising caseloads.
Key features of the fourth intake
The fourth pathway to a judicial career is aimed at lawyers with more than ten years of professional experience. Unlike the traditional competition, this mechanism allows experienced professionals to join the judiciary without taking the standard exam, relying instead on an assessment of their professional merits. This approach makes it possible to quickly bring qualified personnel into the system and address the shortage of judges in the shortest possible time.
However, the selection process under the fourth pathway requires thorough preparation and transparency to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure a high level of professionalism among new judges. The Ministry of Justice emphasizes that this mechanism will make it possible to promptly fill all new vacancies and increase the efficiency of courts across the country.
Context and trends
In recent years, Spain has already faced the urgent need to strengthen its judicial ranks. For example, in 2023, an additional recruitment drive was announced to address the increase in cases after the pandemic. At that time, authorities also pushed for faster procedures and expanded opportunities for experienced lawyers. Such measures helped to partially resolve the problem of overloaded courts, but the issue of long-term staffing remains relevant.
Similar initiatives have been undertaken in other European countries, where judicial systems are dealing with comparable challenges. In some cases, launching special competitions for experienced lawyers made it possible to quickly address staff shortages and boost public trust in the justice system. The Spanish experience shows that timely decisions in this area can significantly impact the quality and speed of case processing, as well as the overall level of legal protection for the population.
