The Regional Government of Andalusia and the High Court of Justice of Andalusia (TSJA) have criticized the central government's recent judicial appointment distribution, labeling it a "political distribution" rather than an allocation based on actual workload. According to an exhaustive study by both institutions, the region needs 216 judges to meet its demands but will only receive 95.
This insufficient allocation, covering barely 44% of the deficit, exacerbates the situation of "nearly one million pending cases" in the country's most populous autonomous community, where trials are already being scheduled up to four years in advance. The judicial sector has repeatedly expressed its rejection of any "political struggle" and called for solutions to this "shortage."
The Council of Ministers has approved the creation of 700 new positions nationwide for judges (500) and prosecutors (200). While the increase in Andalusia's judicial staff will be 9.3% for judges and 7.44% for prosecutors, the number falls far short of what is "desired, required, and needed," according to regional government sources. In recent years, the creation of positions has been minimal, with barely a dozen annually and none in the previous academic year.
A "grievance" compared to other regions is alleged. While Andalusia receives 95 positions, Catalonia, following a specific agreement with ERC, will receive approximately 180 new positions over two years, double that of Andalusian territory. Nationalist spokesperson Gabriel Rufián has pointed to a "massive judicial collapse" affecting his community, acknowledging a problem that extends beyond regional borders.
The Andalusian Government, with the entry of Vox into the Ministry of Justice, maintains its stance that resource allocation is not based on workload but on the "weight of political alliances." Criteria and lack of dialogue with autonomous communities are questioned, and doubts from the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) and judges' associations regarding the system for filling new positions are shared, especially given the absence of a State General Budget.
Of the 95 judge positions for Andalusia, 81 are for trial courts, five for the provincial courts of Málaga, Jaén, and Sevilla, and nine are for territorial assignment. Prosecutor positions are distributed across all regions, reinforcing areas such as Hate Crimes, Human Trafficking, and Violence Against Women.
The Ministry of Justice, led by Félix Bolaños, faces criticism for cuts in court reinforcements and the transfer of financial burden to the autonomous communities. This asymmetrical distribution fuels tension between the central government and the Andalusian regional government, leaving the south with less than half the necessary judges amidst accusations of 'lawfare'.
