Spanish Attorney General

The Attorney General of the State (Spanish: Fiscal General del Estado), or also, Prosecutor General, is the head of the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministerio Fiscal), the independent body within the Judiciary,[1] that is tasked with promoting the operation of justice in defence of the rule of law, defending citizens’ rights, defending the public interest, with protecting the independence of the courts and with ensuring the public interest is satisfied through the courts.[2]

Attorney General of the State
Fiscal General del Estado
Incumbent
Álvaro García Ortiz
since 2 August 2022
Public Prosecution Ministry
StyleThe Most Excellent
(formal)
Madam Attorney General (informal)
Member ofProsecution Ministry
Attorney General's Office
Reports toMinister of Justice
NominatorThe Government, after hearing the General Council of the Judiciary
AppointerThe King
Term length4 years
Constituting instrumentSpanish Constitution
Formation1978
First holderJuan Manuel Fanjul Sedeño
DeputyLieutenant Attorney of the Supreme Court
Salary 132,235 per year (2023)
Websitewww.fiscal.es

The Prosecutor General is a civil servant, appointed and dismissed by the King, after a process that includes a nomination by the Government, a hearing before the General Council of the Judiciary and an appearance before the Congress to evaluate their suitability (although approval by Congress is not required). That is, the three powers of State participate in the appointment. The candidate must be a Spanish jurist of recognised prestige and with more than fifteen years effective exercise of their profession.[3]

The term of the Prosecutor General is a maximum of four years and may not be renewed (except where they have held the position for less than two years) and in any event terminates when the Government completes its term. They can not be removed from office except for as defined by law (disability or serious illness, serious or repeated breach of duties, and other prohibitions).[4]

Functions

According to the law of the Public Prosecutor's Office:The funcions of the Public Prosecutor (Attorney General) include:[2]

  • ensuring that the judicial function is performed effectively in accordance with the laws and within the stipulated time limits through the necessary actions, appeal procedures and other measures;
  • acting in the criminal process by ensuring that the judicial authority takes the appropriate precautionary measures and carries out investigations aimed at establishing the facts;
  • acting in civil proceedings specified by law that affect the public interest or the interests of minors, the disabled or the underprivileged until the normal representation mechanisms are provided;
  • performing the functions assigned to them by the relevant legislation in cases involving the criminal liability of minors, in order to serve the best interests of the minor.

Public Prosecutor's Office

The Office of the Public Prosecutor is an assistant body of the Public Prosecutor. It consists of the following bodies:

  • The Prosecution Inspection
    • Performs inspection powers by permanent delegation of the Attorney General of the State, without prejudice to the functions of ordinary inspection of the Superior Prosecutions and the inspection functions of the Chief Prosecutors with respect to the Prosecutors who depend on them. Inside of the Prosecution Inspection there is a Permanent Section of Valuation to centralize the information on merit and capacity of the Prosecutors in order to give support to the Prosecution Ministry's Council when reporting discretionary appointments of the Prosecutor Career.
Attorney General Office's Headquarters
  • The Technical Secretariat
    • Through its studies, investigations and reports, it is a constant support body for the Attorney General, to exercise the superior leadership of the Public Prosecution Ministry, also carrying out the preparatory work for the Joint of Prosecutors. Collaborates in the planning of the training of the Prosecutors whose competence is attributed to the Center for Legal Studies and assumes the functions that in the field of international legal cooperation the law attributes to the Public Prosecution.
  • The Support Unit
    • Performs representation work and institutional relations with public authorities, as well as communication and attention to the citizen. It is responsible for the analysis and preparation of reports related to the organization and operation of the Public Prosecution Ministry in matters of statistics, information technology, personnel, material means, information and documentation. In general, it carries out functions of support and assistance to the Prosecutor General, to the prosecutors assigned to the Prosecution Ministry, to the Prosecution Ministry's Council and to the Joint of Prosecutors who do not correspond to the Inspection or to the Technical Secretariat.
  • The Special Prosecutors
    • Prosecutor for Violence against Women
    • Prosecutor for Environment and Urbanism
    • Prosecutor for the Protection and Reform of Minors
    • Prosecutor for Workplace Accidents
    • Prosecutor for Traffic Safety
    • Prosecutor for Immigration
    • Prosecutor for International Criminal Cooperation
    • Prosecutor for Computer Crimes
    • Prosecutor for Historical Memory

List of attorneys general

Espectro político
  Royalist
  Independent
Status
  Denotes service as acting Attorneys General
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officePrime Minister(s)
Felipe Gómez Acebo
(1800–?)
1 August 184312 December 1843Joaquín María López
Salustiano Olózaga
Luis González Bravo
Pedro Jiménez Navarro12 December 184315 January 1845
Ramón María Narváez
Joaquín Francisco Pacheco[note 1]
(1808–1865)
5 February 184728 March 1847Carlos Martínez de Irujo y McKean
Lorenzo Arrazola
(1795–1873)
16 April 18474 October 1847Joaquín Francisco Pacheco
Florencio García Goyena
Manuel Barrio Ayuso
(1788–1850)
4 October 184723 November 1850Ramón María Narváez
Serafín María de Sotto
Ramón María Narváez
José María Huet y Allier
(1804–1868)
10 January 185125 August 1854
Juan Bravo Murillo
Federico Roncali
Francisco Lersundi Hormaechea
Luis José Sartorius
Fernando Fernández de Córdova
Ángel de Saavedra
Baldomero Espartero
Pedro Gómez de la Serna
(1806–1871)
25 August 185424 October 1856
Leopoldo O'Donnell
Ramón María Narváez
Joaquín José Casaus
(1793–1885)
24 October 18561857
Manuel Seijas Lozano
(1800–1868)
185726 March 1862
Francisco Armero Peñaranda
Francisco Javier Istúriz
Saturnino Calderón Collantes
Leopoldo O'Donnell
Antonio Corzo y Granado28 March 186217 July 1869
Manuel Pando Fernández de Pinedo
Lorenzo Arrazola
Alejandro Mon y Menéndez
Ramón María Narváez
Leopoldo O'Donnell
Luis González Bravo
José Gutiérrez de la Concha
Francisco Serrano
Fernando Pérez de Rozas23 July 186917 September 1869Juan Bautista Topete
Juan Manuel González Acevedo
(1806–1880)
17 September 186923 June 1870Juan Prim
Eugenio Díez29 June 187010 December 1871Juan Bautista Topete
Francisco Serrano
Manuel Ruiz Zorrilla
José Malcampo
Pascual Bayarri García
(1812–1876)
15 January 187210 August 1872Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Francisco Serrano
Eugenio Díez10 August 187219 November 1873Manuel Ruiz Zorrilla
Estanislao Figueras
Francisco Pi y Margall
Nicolás Salmerón
Emilio Castelar
Ricardo Díaz de Rueda2 May 187427 June 1874
Francisco Serrano
Críspulo García y Gómez de la Serna27 June 187428 February 1875
Juan Zavala de la Puente
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
Saturnino Álvarez Bugallal
(1834–1885)
28 February 187513 July 1877
Joaquín Jovellar Soler
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
Ricardo Alzugaray Yanguas
(–1878)
13 July 18773 October 1878
Salvador Albacete y Albert
(1827–1890)
23 October 187815 March 1879
Arsenio Martínez-Campos
Antonio de Mena y Zorrilla
(1823–1895)
21 March 187916 February 1881
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Aureliano Linares Rivas
(1841–1903)
16 February 188118 May 1882
Trinitario Ruiz Capdepón
(1836–1911)
7 July 18827 January 1884
José de Posada Herrera
Santos Isasa y Valseca
(1831–1902)
22 January 188419 December 1885
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Manuel Colmeiro y Penido
(1818–1894)
15 February 18869 July 1890
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
Juan de la Concha Castañeda
(1818–1903)
9 July 189027 November 1891
Rafael Conde y Luque
(1835–1922)
27 November 189122 December 1892
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Eduardo Martínez del Campo y Acosta
(1840–1911)
23 December 18922 April 1894
Juan de Aldana y Carvajal
Acting Attorney General
(1835–?)
3 April 18948 July 1895
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
Luciano Puga Blanco
(1842–1899)
8 July 189521 October 1897
Marcelo Azcárraga Palmero
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Felipe Sánchez Román
(1850–1916)
21 October 18977 March 1899
Francisco Silvela
Salvador Viada y Vilaseca
(1843–1904)
7 March 189925 June 1900
José Díez Macuso
(1844–1916)
25 June 190011 March 1901
Marcelo Azcárraga Palmero
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Juan Montilla y Adán
(1856–1903)
11 March 190119 March 1902
Trinitario Ruiz Valarino
(1862–1945)
7 April 19026 December 1902
Eugenio Silvela y Corral
(1866–1911)
27 July 19037 December 1903Raimundo Fernández Villaverde
Joan Maluquer
(1856–1940)
10 December 190328 June 1905Antonio Maura
Marcelo Azcárraga Palmero
Raimundo Fernández Villaverde
Eugenio Montero Ríos
Trinitario Ruiz Valarino
(1862–1945)
28 June 190528 January 1907
Segismundo Moret
José López Domínguez
Segismundo Moret
Antonio Aguilar y Correa
Antonio Maura
Francisco Javier Ugarte Pagés
(1852–1919)
28 January 190730 October 1909
Segismundo Moret
Trinitario Ruiz Valarino
(1862–1945)
30 October 19099 February 1910
Javier Gómez de la Serna y Laguna
(1880–1922)
14 June 191014 November 1910José Canalejas
Buenaventura Muñoz Rodríguez
(1853–1925)
11 July 191127 July 1911
Andrés Tornos y Alonso
(1854–1926)
15 September 19118 October 1912
Manuel Portela
(1867–1952)
8 October 191217 March 1913
Manuel García Prieto
Álvaro de Figueroa
Martín Rosales y Martel
Duke of Almodóvar del Valle
(1872–1931)
17 March 191319 June 1913
José Parrés y Sobrino
(1865–1917)
19 June 191331 October 1913
Eduardo Dato
Joan Maluquer
(1856–1940)
31 October 191317 July 1914
Senén Canido y Pardo
(1847–1928)
17 July 191413 December 1915
Álvaro de Figueroa
Andrés Avelino Montero Ríos y Villegas
(1875–1922)
13 December 19153 May 1917
Manuel García Prieto
Carlos Cañal y Migolla
(1876–1938)
16 June 191714 November 1917
Eduardo Dato
Manuel García Prieto
Víctor Covián y Junco
(1848–1927)
17 December 19176 March 1923
Antonio Maura
Manuel García Prieto
Álvaro de Figueroa
Antonio Maura
Joaquín Sánchez de Toca
Manuel Allendesalazar Muñoz
Eduardo Dato
Gabino Bugallal
Manuel Allendesalazar Muñoz
Antonio Maura
José Sánchez Guerra
Manuel García Prieto
José Lladó Vallés
(1888–1933)
6 March 192321 September 1923
Miguel Primo de Rivera
Galo Ponte y Escartín
(1867–1943)
30 June 19244 December 1925
Diego María Crehuet del Amo
(1873–1956)
4 December 19254 January 1928
José Oppelt García
(1862–1926)
4 January 19286 February 1930
Dámaso Berenguer
Santiago Del Valle y Aldabalde
(1865–1940)
6 February 193016 December 1930
Manuel Moreno y Fernández de Roa16 December 193016 April 1931
Juan Bautista Aznar-Cabañas
Ángel Galarza
(1891–1966)
16 April 193114 May 1931Niceto Alcalá Zamora
Francisco Javier Elola
(1877–1939)
14 May 193131 July 1931
José Franchy y Roca
(1871–1944)
2 August 193124 December 1931
Manuel Azaña
Gabriel Martínez de Aragón y Urbitzondo
(1865–1934)
24 December 19317 March 1933
José Oriol Anguera de Sojo
(1879–1956)
10 May 193320 September 1933
Antonio Marsá Bragado
(1877–1965)
20 September 193326 May 1934
Alejandro Lerroux
Diego Martínez Barrio
Alejandro Lerroux
Ricardo Samper
Alejandro Lerroux
Lorenzo Gallardo González
(1880–1940)
26 May 193417 November 1935
Joaquín Chapaprieta
Marcelino Valentín Gamazo
(1878–1936)
17 November 193527 December 1935
Antonio Taboada Tundidor
(–1959)
27 December 19352 January 1936Manuel Portela
Manuel Iglesias Corral
(1901–1989)
3 January 19368 February 1936
Alberto de Paz y Mateos
(1915–1967)
22 February 193628 August 1936Manuel Azaña
Augusto Barcia Trelles
Santiago Casares Quiroga
Jesús Vallés Fortuño
(1862–1970)
28 August 193612 December 1936Diego Martínez Barrio
José Giral
Eduardo Ortega y Gasset
(1882–1964)
12 December 193614 November 1937Francisco Largo Caballero
Leopoldo Garrido Cavero
(1893–1946)
26 December 193725 April 1939[note 2][5]Juan Negrín
Blas Pérez González
(1896–1978)
10 November 19383 September 1942Francisco Franco
Ramón García del Valle y Salas
Acting Attorney General
(1881–1961)
3 September 194212 September 1945
Manuel de la Plaza Navarro
(1886–1960)
12 September 194521 October 1955
Ildefonso Alamillo Salgado
(1888–?)
21 October 195530 September 1965
Fernando Herrero Tejedor
(1920–1975)
30 September 196521 March 1975
Luis Carrero Blanco
Torcuato Fernández-Miranda
Carlos Arias Navarro
Antonio García Rodríguez-Acosta
(1921–2006)
21 March 197510 December 1976
Fernando de Santiago y Díaz
Adolfo Suárez
Eleuterio González Zapatero
(1916–?)
12 December 197613 January 1978
Juan Manuel Fanjul Sedeño
(1914–1989)
13 January 197814 November 1980Adolfo Suarez
José María Gil-Albert
(1925–2007)
14 November 198015 December 1982
Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo
Luis Antonio Burón Barba
(1918–1995)
16 December 198219 September 1986Felipe González
Javier Moscoso
(1934–)
19 September 198626 January 1990
Leopoldo Torres Boursault
(1941–2021)
26 January 199010 April 1992
Eligio Hernández
(1947–)
April 10, 1992May 27, 1994
Carlos Granados
(1944–)
3 June 19946 September 1996
Juan Ortiz Úrculo
(1939–)
6 September 199616 May 1997José María Aznar
Jesús Cardenal Fernández
(1930–2018)
16 May 199722 April 2004
Cándido Conde-Pumpido
(1949–)
22 April 200411 December 2011José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Eduardo Torres-Dulce
(1950–)
11 December 201119 December 2014Mariano Rajoy
Consuelo Madrigal
(1956–)
10 January 20154 November 2016
José Manuel Maza
(1951–2017)
25 November 201618 November 2017
Luis Navajas Ramos
Acting Attorney General
(1948–)
18 November 201711 December 2017
Julián Sánchez Melgar
(1955–-)
11 December 201722 June 2018
Luis Navajas Ramos
Acting Attorney General
(1948–)
22 June 201829 June 2018
María José Segarra
(1963–)
29 June 201815 January 2020Pedro Sánchez
Luis Navajas Ramos
Acting Attorney General
(1948–)
15 January 202026 February 2020
Dolores Delgado
(1962–)
26 February 202020 July 2022
María Ángeles Sánchez Conde
(1956–)
20 July 20222 August 2022
Álvaro García Ortiz
(1967–)
2 August 2022Incumbent

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography