Juan Carlos Peinado steps down at 72, just days after ordering Begoña Gómez, wife of Spain’s prime minister, to face a jury for alleged influence peddling and embezzlement. His retirement closes a turbulent chapter in Spanish judicial history.
Juan Carlos Peinado is out. The judge who put Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, on trial has retired. He reached the mandatory age of 72. Spanish law forced his hand. His last act? Sending Gómez to face a jury for alleged influence peddling and embezzlement. That has never happened to a prime minister’s spouse in Spain. The case, known as 'caso Begoña', has kept the judiciary in the spotlight for 894 days.
Peinado’s final decision was anything but ordinary. He ordered Gómez and her top Moncloa adviser, Cristina Álvarez, to stand before a popular jury. Official records from the BOE confirm his retirement was compulsory. His career will formally end on September 27, 2026. Independent media have reported these details.
The investigation into Begoña Gómez began in April 2024 following a complaint by the Manos Limpias union, and by the time of Peinado's retirement, it had lasted nearly two and a half years.
Political pressure came fast. The Moncloa pushed back from the start. Manos Limpias filed its complaint in April 2024. Peinado was suddenly in the middle of a political storm. He even entered the presidential palace to question Sánchez and Justice Minister Félix Bolaños. He wanted to widen the investigation. The Supreme Court blocked his attempt to add Bolaños, citing legal protections for the executive. Several independent outlets reported that the Madrid appellate court had already allowed for a jury trial, backing Peinado’s move as legitimate.
Controversy stuck to Peinado. During Bolaños’s testimony, Peinado refused to start until a platform was set up to raise his seat above the minister’s. That detail made headlines. The Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) reviewed complaints about Peinado’s conduct. They cleared him. The CGPJ found the atmosphere tense but saw no reason for sanctions. RTVE reported that Minister Bolaños filed a new appeal with the CGPJ after earlier complaints were shelved. The Council denied him access to the full case file.
Things escalated in July 2024. Sánchez, through the State Attorney’s Office, filed a criminal complaint. He accused Peinado of “prevarication” for summoning him as a witness. The Madrid High Court threw out the complaint. But the fight got nastier. Government officials and PSOE leaders kept up the attacks. National Court judge Santiago Pedraz ruled that undermining Peinado was a key goal for those trying to neutralize judicial threats to the party.
The CGPJ previously examined complaints about Peinado's conduct during the investigation and, according to press reports, did not impose any sanctions, which was cited as evidence that his actions were not deemed a disciplinary offense.
Peinado made mistakes. He took Gómez’s passport for a short time. The Madrid Provincial Court reversed that decision quickly. He also suggested the National Police might have helped Gómez flee Spain. Police unions were furious. Still, the Madrid court backed his main decision. Gómez and Álvarez will face a jury on the most serious charges.
Before 'caso Begoña', Peinado was a quiet figure outside legal circles. He once investigated football star Raúl González Blanco for alleged asset concealment. That case ended with no conviction. He handled complaints from Manos Limpias against Madrid city councillors over offensive tweets. Those cases went to the National Court. In 2019, he looked into journalists for alleged leaks in the CDR case. That case was shelved.
Peinado started his judicial career late. He served for about thirty years, using every legal extension. His retirement, effective September 27, 2026, ends a career shaped by high-profile investigations and political battles.
Now the Spanish legal system faces a test. The decision to put Begoña Gómez and her adviser on trial sets a new precedent. The CGPJ’s unanimous support for Peinado shows the judiciary wants to defend its independence, even under heavy political fire. The coming trial will show how strong Spain’s legal and political order really is.
