Judges' strike in Spain: who's calling it, what the dates are, and how it could affect you.

The call for a new judicial strike in Spain has reopened the debate on the independence of the judiciary and institutional balance in the country . A three-day strike is expected in July, affecting thousands of judicial proceedings across the country. The mobilization is a direct response to a legislative reform promoted by the government , the content of which has generated strong controversy among various sectors of the judiciary and prosecutorial profession. Furthermore, the lack of institutional consensus on the legality of this strike adds further tension to the conflict.

The five organizing associations— the Professional Association of the Judiciary (APM), the Francisco de Vitoria Judicial Association (AJFV), the Independent Judicial Forum (FJI), the Association of Prosecutors (AF), and the Professional and Independent Association of Prosecutors (APIF) —have scheduled the strike for July 1, 2, and 3, in addition to a rally on June 28 in front of the Supreme Court. Their protest focuses on their rejection of two reforms: the first, which modifies access to the judicial and prosecutorial professions, and the second, which reforms the Organic Statute of the Public Prosecutor's Office . According to the organizations, both initiatives could jeopardize judicial impartiality by opening the door to more politicized selection processes and by strengthening the power of the Attorney General, a figure directly appointed by the government.

Reaction of the CGPJ to the judges' strike

The General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) has refused to officially recognize the strike , arguing that it "lacks regulatory support" and, therefore, cannot be considered legally announced. It has also stated that it is not competent to establish minimum services. However, the associations have responded that the right to strike , enshrined in Article 28.2 of the Spanish Constitution, does not admit restrictive interpretations, and they have decided to maintain the protest, establishing minimum services on their own, as they have done in previous similar strikes. Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice has proposed that a salary deduction could be applied to those who participate in the strike, although this measure was previously annulled by the National Court.

Impact on judicial proceedings

The three-day suspension of judicial activity will result in the suspension of previously scheduled trials, hearings, and hearings . As has happened in previous strikes, these interruptions could result in delays lasting months, especially in sensitive or urgent cases. The organizing associations guarantee that essential services—such as on-call cases or urgent precautionary measures—will continue to be provided to avoid irreparable harm to citizens' rights.