First official reaction from Spain's General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) to the criticisms it has received from the justice minister, Rafael Catalá, for not having acted with regards to judge Ricardo González. The judge in question gave a dissenting opinion in the Manada (wolf pack) case, voting to completely acquit the five. Catalá today said he has a "unique problem" which "everyone" is aware of.
In a statement which avoids any direct reference to the minister's words, the council calls for "moderation, prudence and restraint" from public officials "to avoid the political usage of the justice system" and the questioning of the "judges who make up the judiciary and who work to achieve quality justice".
La Comisión Permanente del @PoderJudicialEs apela a la responsabilidad institucional para evitar la utilización política de la Justicia o el cuestionamiento de la independencia, la imparcialidad y la profesionalidad de los jueces y magistrados. pic.twitter.com/77XDkgk5It
— Poder Judicial (@PoderJudicialEs) 30 avril 2018
"The Permanent Commission of the General Council of the Judiciary calls for moderation, prudence and restraint and for institutional responsibility to avoid the political usage of the justice system or the questioning of the independence, impartiality and professionalism of the judges and magistrates who make up the judiciary and work to achieve quality justice," the statement says.
"It seems clear that the events seen in recent days have to make us reflect and increase our efforts to work for a more equal society, but these same events also make it clear that it's necessary to direct this effort along the paths of prudent reflection which Spanish society has furnished itself with, the respect of which public officials have to look out for".
President's statement
The CGPJ notes that it already issued a statement on 27th April saying that the sentence in question had been pronounced "within the framework of guarantees and submission to the law included in our state under the rule of law, which includes the proper system of appeals which allows the accuracy of judicial decisions to be ensured".
In the statement, after recognising the legitimacy of criticising sentences, they called for prudence from public officials so as not to, with their comments, raise doubts about the legal system among the public.