Crusading Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzon is suspended

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: BBC

High-profile Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon has been suspended from his post by the country's judicial body.

The decision was unanimously adopted by the General Council of the Judiciary.

He is due to face trial on charges that he abused his powers by opening an inquiry in 2008 into crimes committed during Francisco Franco's rule.

Mr Garzon was later forced to drop the investigation into the crimes committed during the 1936-39 Civil War in Spain, which are covered by an amnesty.

In February, a Supreme Court investigating magistrate ruled that Mr Garzon had ignored the 1977 amnesty by launching the investigation.

Mr Garzon, 54, who is highly popular among the Spanish political left and international human rights campaigners, appealed against the ruling, saying his inquiry was legitimate.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8682948.stm

[jtrockville]

1. I hope his case against "The Bush Six" will still move forward.

Though Velasco has a parallel case, so maybe just Velasco's will go forward.

[Jefferson23]

2. I hope he gets to be an advisor for The Hague. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

3. All is not lost! "Pioneering and Persecuted Baltasar Offered Position by the International Criminal

Pioneering and Persecuted Baltasar Offered Position by the International Criminal Court
By Brandon Henander
Wednesday, May 12 10:41 am EST

Judge Baltasar Garzon, a pioneer of universal jurisdiction against heads of state, was offered a job by the International Criminal Court today. This comes as Baltasar is being persecuted by far right groups in his home country of Spain. From the Office of the Prosecutor:

“The Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court today confirmed that it has requested Judge Baltasar Garzon of Spain , to work as a consultant for seven months, helping the office improve its investigative methods.

“Judge Garzon’s extensive experience in investigating massive crimes committed by States and non state organisations will be a great contribution to my office.” Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo said.

Mr Garzon has already assisted the OTP in relation to the preliminary examination the Office is carrying out in Colombia .”

More:
http://warcrimes.foreignpolicyblogs.com/

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

You can't keep a good man down! Wow! :bounce: