Introduction to a Life

Abstract

INTRODUCTION TO A LIFE ADAN GRIEGO Stanford University Baltasar Garzón has been ajudge in Spain since 1980 when he was only 24. In his 12 years on the bench he has prosecuted cases ranging from organized crime to terrorism and government corruption as well as "crimes committed outside Spain but where the Spanish are competent to try them- such as genocide and torture, as in the cases of Argentina and Chile...'" Of middle class farming origins, Garzón spent several years in the seminary studying for the priesthood in his native Andalucía. After leaving his religious studies, he attended law school at the University of Seville where he completed his degree in 1978 just as Spain began its transition to democracy. His judicial career was interrupted briefly during 1993-1994 when he served in the Spanish Cortes (the legislature's lower house), having won a seat for the Socialist Party (PSOE). Disillusioned by the lax policies of Felipe Gonzalez (Spain's Socialist Premier from 1982-1996), Garzón quit his congressional post and returned to his judicial origins. He then brought corruption charges against several of Gonzalez's associates, in many ways precipitating the Socialist's fall from power. Perhaps it was expected that with the Conservative Party (Alianza Popular) coming to power in 1996, Garzón might fade into the distance. But he had already turned his attention to another front, this time against Argentina's military leaders ofthe 1970's guerrasucia, or dirty war, which saw between 13,000-15,000 citizens killed. RidiculedbyArgentine authorities, Garzón continuedhis investigations into human rights violations of Spanish citizens at the hands of Argentina's military junta. He was not deterred by either ridicule or disbelief from the press. After all, it was not the first time he had encountered this type of attitude. Back in 1990 he had led Operation Necora, "a sting that involved 54 men and women suspected of working for the country's biggest drug lords. With the help of a dealer who turned state's evidence, Garzón expected long prison sentences for members of the network."2 The courts, feeling there was a lack of evidence, handed out short prison terms or, in some cases, acquittals.© 2004-2005 NUEVO TEXTO CRITICO Vol. XVII-XVIII No. 33-36 22__________________________________________________________BALTAZAR GARZÓN In late 1998 the international community was startled to find out that Judge Garzón had issued an order of detention against Augusto Pinochet while the former Chilean dictator (1973-1990) was in London undergoing medical treatment. The famous "Caso Pinochet" continued in the Chilean courts after British authorities allowed Pinochet to return to Chile until the dictator's death in December of 2006. Certainly Garzón's bold steps in trying gross human rights violations has established precedent against heads ofstate who may now be tried for crimes like torture and genocide, which are no longer considered to be covered by sovereign immunity. Notes 1.Cuomo, Kerry Kennedy. Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders Who Are Changing Our World. New York: Crown Publishers, 2000, p. 128 2.Oilman, Craig. "A Crusader with a Fondness for the Limelight." Time International, November 2, 1998. p. 16. Works consulted Los Documentos del Juez Garzón y la Audiencia Nacional: El Caso de España contra las dictaduras chilena y argentina (prólogo de Maruja Torres y epílogo de Luis Sepulveda). Barcelona: Planeta, 1998. Garzón, Baltasar: Un mundo sin miedo. Barcelona: Plaza y Janes, 2005. Sanchez Soler, Mariano: Baltasar Garzón: tigre depapel. Madrid: Foca, 2006. Urbano, Pilar: Garzón: el hombre que veía amanecer. Barcelona: Plaza y Janes, 2000. ...