Valencia Supreme Court Finally Closes Case Against Judge After Rubén Gisbert's Complaint. The court in Valencia has confirmed the closure of the case against judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra and her husband. Rubén Gisbert had accused them of misconduct. The decision was upheld by the region's Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court of the Valencian Community has put an end to the high-profile conflict surrounding Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, definitively confirming the closure of the case following the complaint by blogger and lawyer Rubén Gisbert. The decision comes amid strong criticism directed at the judge and her family, as well as public accusations of corruption and bias, voiced both at rallies and on social media.
The situation escalated after Rubén Gisbert, known for his conspiratorial statements, launched accusations against Nuria Ruiz Tobarra and her husband, Judge Jorge Martínez Ribera. According to elDiario.es, in public speeches and online, Gisbert called the judge a 'criminal' and 'corrupt', and directed insults on social media at one of the key witnesses in the case, government delegate Pilar Bernabé.
In parallel, the standing committee of the Judicial Council (CGPJ) has taken up two requests for protection from Nuria Ruiz Tobarra herself. The grounds were both statements by deputy Rafael Hernando, who accused the judge of 'blatant' bias, and the actions of Rubén Gisbert. Both now have 10 days to submit their explanations regarding these incidents.
The CGPJ disciplinary commission continues to review complaints submitted by the defense of former advisor Salomé Pradas and former emergency secretary Emilio Argüeso, who are also involved in the flood (dana) case. Nevertheless, the criminal proceedings against the judge and her husband have been definitively closed, as confirmed by the court ruling of April 27.
Amid ongoing debates on the independence of the judiciary and pressure on judges, the situation in Valencia has become yet another example of a public conflict between government officials and activists. Similar disputes over trust in judicial and prosecutorial authorities were recently discussed in Madrid — for more details on the reaction of professional associations to criticism of the Prosecutor's Office, see the article on personnel decisions in the Prosecutor General’s Office.
