Spanish judge who pursued human rights cases disbarred by Supreme Court

The Spanish judge who took on criminal cases against international figures accused of torture and crimes against humanity was disbarred by Spain’s Supreme Court today. Hundreds gathered in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol to protest the decision, according to El Pais. Critics say the sentence is retribution for his high profile pursuit of international law. Judge Baltasar Garzon ordered the arrest of Augosto Pinochet in 1998, arguing that international standards of justice apply across national borders. He also said those standards could apply to members of the Bush Administration for torture at Guantanamo Bay. Most recently, he ordered an investigation on behalf of victims of Spain’s dictator, Francisco Franco.

For more, we’re joined by Almudena Bernabeau, an international Attorney, with the Center for Justice and Accountability. She’s originally from Spain and has worked on cases that came before Judge Garzon’s court.