Spain's Leading Human Rights Judge Baltasar Garzon Convicted of Wiretapping
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Spain's Supreme Court convicted judge Baltasar Garzon on Thursday in an illegal wiretapping case, ending the judicial career of a man who won world renown for pursuing human rights abuses and Augusto Pinochet's arrest.

"We condemn the accused, Baltasar Garzon, as the author of the crime of abusing his authority ... to 11 years' suspension from his duty as judge or magistrate," the court's ruling read.

Garzon, 56, who found international fame for trying to extradite Chile's former dictator Augusto Pinochet in 1998, was found guilty of ordering illegal recordings of corruption suspects talking to their lawyers.

The suspension effectively ends Garzon's career as a judge.

He is also awaiting judgment in a second trial for trying to investigate atrocities of the Franco era, in an alleged breach of an amnesty.

Garzon's defenders say both trials are politically motivated bids to stop him prosecuting crimes committed during Spain's 1936-1939 Civil War and the subsequent dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. » | Source: AFP | Thursday, February 09, 2012

Baltasar Garzon «ne sera plus jamais juge en Espagne»

LE FIGARO: Accusé de forfaiture pour avoir instruit les crimes du franquisme, le célèbre magistrat paraît «triste et accablé».

Pour ses défenseurs et pour lui-même, le mal est fait. L'issue des trois procès dans lesquels est accusé le célèbre juge espagnol Baltasar Garzon ne changera rien à sa décision. Dans un entretien au Figaro, son avocat l'assure: «Garzon ne sera jamais plus juge en Espagne.»

Gonzalo Martinez-Fresneda défend Garzon dans le procès le plus emblématique, celui sur l'instruction des crimes du franquisme, qui s'est ouvert le 24 janvier au Tribunal suprême. Le magistrat s'est illustré notamment pour avoir poursuivi Augusto Pinochet et les responsables de la junte argentine. Dans son propre pays, assis sur le banc des accusés, il doit justifier son intention d'instruire les crimes de la dictature franquiste. En ouvrant le dossier, dit l'accusation, Garzon a sciemment violé une loi d'amnistie votée en 1977, deux ans après la mort du général Franco. Il risque une peine d'inhabilité de 20 ans. » | Par Mathieu de Taillac | mercredi 25 janvier 2012

Crusading Spanish Judge Balthasar Garzon Faces Trial Over Franco Probe
THE TELEGRAPH: Balthasar Garzon, the crusading Spanish judge famed for his attempt to extradite Augusto Pinochet from Britain is to be put on trial for abuse of power.

Judge Balthasar Garzon is well known for taking on high-profile terrorism and war crimes cases. Photo: The Telegraph
Spain's Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday he "knowingly acting without jurisdiction" when he launched an investigation into crimes perpetrated under Gen Francisco Franco.

Magistrate Luciano Varela ruled he had "consciously ignored" an amnesty decreed in parliament in 1977 designed to draw a line under past abuses and aid Spain's smooth transition to democracy.

The decision marked a devastating fall from grace for Spain's most prominent and controversial judge who gained fame worldwide for using the Spanish doctrine of universal jurisdiction to pursue human rights abuses.

He came to international prominence in the late 1990s with the pursuit of Chilean military ruler Augusto Pinochet for human rights abuses. He has also investigated atrocities by Argentina's former military regime, indicted Osama bin Laden over the September 11 attacks and pursued American authorities over torture allegations in Guantánamo. He has also questioned the legality of war in Iraq and tried unsuccessfully to prosecute Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi for tax fraud.

He now faces immediate suspension from the National Court where he serves as magistrate until the case against him is heard.

The 54-year-old judge polarised Spain when he launched a probe into the country's darkest era more than 70 years after the start of the Civil War and 33 years after the death of the fascist dictator Gen Franco.

He was accused of breaking a pact of silence and reopening old wounds with a criminal investigation into the fate of 114,000 people who "vanished" during the 1936-39 conflict and ensuing dictatorship.

He declared that a "virtual genocide" had been carried out by Franco and his henchmen and that such crimes should be investigated as a form of "institutional rehabilitation to counter the official silence". >>> Fiona Govan in Madrid | Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Balthasar Garzon: Profile of the Super-Judge
THE TELEGRAPH: Judge Balthasar Garzon has earned the moniker in Spain of "superjuez" – super-judge – for his crusading zeal in pursing high-profile wrongdoers both at home and abroad.

The charismatic silver haired magistrate, who is married and has three children, is seen as a hero by leftists and international human rights groups but reviled equally by those who accuse him of egotism and pursuing his own grievances.

The son of a petrol-pump attendant, he was born in October 1955 in Torres, Andalucia, and as a committed Roman Catholic began studying for the priesthood before changing to law.

He became a provincial judge aged 23 and was the youngest ever magistrate to join the National Court in Madrid, aged just 32 where he made a name in cases of crimes against humanity, corruption, organised crime and terrorism cases.

Instinctively left-wing having been brought up in the dying days of Franco's regime he briefly gave up the bench to run for parliament as an "independent" socialist candidate but resigned months later complaining that it was impossible to tackle corruption from within. >>> Fiona Govan in Madrid | Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Assange’s Health Could Drastically Worsen in Embassy – Lawyer
RT.COM: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could suffer serious health problems if he stays in London’s Ecuadorian embassy, warned his lawyer. The whistleblower faces immediate arrest and extradition to Sweden should he leave the building.

“Assange is in good health, but the situation is getting steadily worse,” lawyer Baltasar Garzon said during an anti-corruption conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The confined conditions in which Assange is currently living could cause him to “suffer from serious medical problems,” and lead to “psychological issues,” Garzon said.

Assange has been confined tinside Ecuadorian Embassy since June 19 in conditions Garzon described as worse than prison. Assange took refuge there to avoid being extradited to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning on charges of sex crimes.

According to Garzon, Assange is not seeking to escape questioning in Sweden, as they allegedly have evidence proving his innocence. “We want the trial to go ahead in Sweden, but we want a guarantee of his safety.” Garzon said the whistleblower risked being re-extradited to US jurisdiction should he be taken to Sweden. Previously, Ecuadorian vice foreign minister Marco Albuja said that he was “very worried” for Assange’s welfare, and that “he had lost a lot of weight.” » | Sunday, November 11, 2012

Balthasar Garzon Wins Permission to Work at International Criminal Court
THE TELEGRAPH: Balthasar Garzon, the controversial Spanish judge currently suspended from his duties in his home country, has won permission work at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Spain's top judicial panel had suspended Mr Garzon on Friday pending his trial on charges he exceeded his authority by ordering an investigation into mass killings by the forces of former dictator Francisco Franco.

The suspension from his functions as a judge was widely thought in Spain to be an obstacle to a transfer to a foreign court but the judicial panel approved Garzon's request to spend seven months at The Hague court.

"Legal reasons could not be found to prevent the hiring of the judge as a consultant", Gabriela Bravo, spokeswoman for the judicial panel told reporters.

The Spanish judge, who won fame for his attempt to extradite former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet for human rights abuses, faces three separate charges in Spain's Supreme Court. >>> | Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Related articles here and here

Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzon Acquitted in Franco-era Crime Probe

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Judge Baltasar Garzon was cleared by Spain's Supreme Court on Monday of overstepping his authority when he ordered an investigation into crimes committed during the Franco era.

The case against Spain's highest profile judge had highlighted divisions in the country over examination of its darkest era and saw thousands of people take to the streets in support of the magistrate.

The important ruling cleared Mr Garzon of abusing his judicial powers by launching the investigation into the disappearance of 114,000 by Gen Francisco Franco's forces.

Mr Garzon had argued that such atrocities – crimes against humanity – could not be subject to a 1977 Amnesty covering the Franco era and that the relatives of victims deserved justice.

But the verdict of not guilty, passed by 6-1 on the seven judge panel, appeared to be based on a technicality of the law – that the judge had committed an error when he opened the investigation but that it did not constitute a crime.

"He misinterpreted Spanish law but did not knowingly and arbitrarily violate the limits of his jurisdiction ... as would be required for a conviction" the Supreme Court justices said in a 63-page ruling. » | Fiona Govan, Madrid | Monday, February 27, 2012

THE GUARDIAN: Baltasar Garzón cleared over investigation into Franco-era crimes: Former Spanish judge declared not guilty by supreme court after facing charges described as 'ill-advised' by Human Rights Watch » | Giles Tremlett in Madrid | Monday, February 27, 2012

Verwandt »

Espagne: le juge Garzon fait appel
LE FIGARO: Le juge espagnol Baltasar Garzon a fait appel aujourd'hui de la décision d'un juge du Tribunal suprême de le déférer en justice pour avoir voulu enquêter sur les disparus de la guerre civile espagnole et de la dictature franquiste en ignorant une loi d'amnistie générale, a annoncé son avocat. >>> AFP | Samedi 10 Avril 2010

ZEIT ONLINE: Spanien – Solidarität für Baltasar Garzón: Arrogant, stur, unbestechlich – der spanische "Superrichter" und Kämpfer für Menschenrechte hat viele Feinde in aller Welt. Sie wollen ihn jetzt zum Schweigen bringen. >>> Von Werner A. Perger | Montag, 12. April 2010

Charismatic Judge Who Pursued Spain's Fascist Assassins Finds Himself on Trial
THE OBSERVER: Powerful enemies are attempting to unseat the 'superjudge' who tried to bring the death squads of Franco's dictatorship to book

The Spanish judge Baltasar Garzón, who dared to investigate the atrocities of the Franco dictatorship. Photo: The Observer
The crowd gathered outside Madrid's national court was loud and angry. "The world has been turned upside down," they cried. "The fascists are judging the judge!" Some carried photographs of long-dead relatives, killed by rightwing death squads in Spain's brutal civil war in the 1930s. Others bore placards bearing the name of the hero they wanted to save, the controversial "superjudge" Baltasar Garzón.

Pedro Romero de Castilla carried a picture of his grandfather, Wenceslao – a former stationmaster taken away from his home in the western city of Mérida and shot by a death squad at the service of Generalísimo Francisco Franco's rightwing military rebels 74 years ago. The family have never found his body.

Garzón, he explained, had dared to investigate the atrocities of 36 years of Franco's dictatorship and now, as a result, he faces trial for allegedly abusing his powers. "My grandfather's case is one that Garzón wanted to investigate," he said. "He's a brave and intelligent judge, but now the right are out to get him." >>> Giles Tremlett Madrid | Sunday, April 25, 2010

Related / Verbunden / Lien en relation avec l’article:

LE FIGARO: Espagne: le juge Garzon fait appel >>> AFP | Samedi 10 Avril 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Crusading Spanish Judge Balthasar Garzon Faces Trial Over Franco Probe >>> Fiona Govan in Madrid | Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Cinq enfants sauvages découverts en Colombie
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: BOGOTA | Le père, qui souffre apparemment de troubles mentaux, avait contraint sa famille à vivre dans une grotte.

Cinq enfants que leur père avait contraints de vivre dans des grottes depuis leur naissance ont été découverts dans le centre-est de la Colombie. Ces jeunes âgés de huit mois à 11 ans se portent bien.

«Comme ils n'avaient jamais été en contact avec le monde extérieur, il n'a pas été facile de les emmener et de leur faire leur toilette. Quand on a allumé la télévision, ils sont partis en courant», a raconté samedi au journal «El Tiempo» de Bogota, Alirio Garzon, un membre de la Protection civile qui a secouru les enfants. >>> AFP | Samedi 29 Mai 2010