Council of Europe endorses Spanish process for ECHR judge appointment

The Spanish Government has announced that the Council of Europe has endorsed the procedure for appointing a Spanish judge to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). An expert committee from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe reviewed the selection process and concluded that it “adjusts completely” to European regulations.

The Assembly will proceed to interview the three candidates presented by Spain: magistrates Luis Jimena Quesada, Ana María Salinas de Frías, and Daniel Sarmiento Ramírez-Escudero. One of these candidates will be selected as the titular judge in the coming months.

The Ministry of Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Courts defended the 2020 procedure, stating it is “more independent” because the selection committee includes a judicial career representative appointed by the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) and a recognized legal expert. This endorsement follows criticisms from the People's Party (PP), which had previously accused the government of failing to meet European standards for judicial independence.