Overview

• Álvaro García Ortiz remains in office after the judge declined to suspend him, citing a legal gap on how to sideline a sitting attorney general.
• The Supreme Court’s criminal chamber is assembling a seven-judge bench—expected to include Andrés Martínez Arrieta, Manuel Marchena, Juan Ramón Berdugo, Antonio del Moral, Carmen Lamela, Susana Polo and Ana Ferrer—with a trial anticipated for autumn and a possible ruling before year-end.
• The order focuses on alleged revelation of secrets tied to a confidential email about Alberto González Amador, while leaving the door open for the trial court to weigh other alleged offenses such as prevarication or mishandling of documents.
• The Government reiterates its confidence in García Ortiz as judges’ and prosecutors’ associations urge his resignation to protect the institution, and opposition leaders press for his departure.
• In a parallel case, Begoña Gómez’s assistant, Cristina Álvarez, invoked her right not to testify on a malversation probe as the judge continues to extend inquiries tied to Gómez’s activities.