Spain: Judicial leadership shifts and legal reform updates

The presidency of the High Court of Justice of Madrid (TSJM) remains vacant following the departure of Celso Rodríguez Padrón in July. María Jesús del Barco Martínez, currently the dean of the Madrid Plaza de Castilla courts and spokesperson for the Professional Association of Magistrates, has emerged as a leading candidate for the position. The appointment, which must be made by the General Council of the Judiciary, is considered highly significant as the TSJM will oversee potential appeals related to the upcoming trial of Begoña Gómez.

Separately, legal clarifications have emerged regarding the administrative law reforms introduced by Royal Decree-Law 6/2023. Following a Supreme Court ruling, it has been confirmed that sentences issued by the newly renamed Sections of the Administrative Court of Instance (formerly Administrative Courts) can no longer be appealed directly via cassation. Instead, parties must first exhaust the administrative route by filing an appeal, as the previous direct cassation mechanism has been effectively rendered obsolete by the legislative changes.