Huelva faces shortage of court‑appointed lawyers as low pay drives exits

More than 40 lawyers have quit the court‑appointed (turno de oficio) service in the province of Huelva, Spain, after citing inadequate compensation that does not cover travel expenses to distant courts such as Aracena and Ayamonte. The exodus threatens the provision of free legal defence for low‑income citizens, a cornerstone of the Spanish constitutional right to justice. Bar associations warn that the erosion of the legal aid system could increase prison populations and deepen inequality in legal outcomes.

The crisis highlights broader concerns about the sustainability of public defence funding and its impact on the rule of law in the region.