My second surname rather gives away the fact that I’m a Real Madrid fan. Thirty years (practically from the time when I was still innocent) teaches you a lot. I’ve encountered and given verdicts at different jurisdictions and levels. I value the village judge just as much as the Supreme Court of Justice Judge. We are Judges and that’s it.  I was born in Seville but grew up in Extremadura. To have received the Cruz de San Raimundo honour, proposed by the Judges of Cáceres, is a great source of pride for me. In truth, almost all of us deserve it. I must admit, however, that it was an even greater honour to be made a free man of my village, Valencia de Alcántara, where I spent such a happy childhood. I know that our Association is changing many things for the better and, above all, I’m sure that those of you who are young now are going achieve what generations of judges before you were unable to achieve. I’m certain. Sursum corda.

I’m a third generation Madrileña, born in 1973. From Graduating Class 54, it was with our group (and some of Graduating Class 53) that the devaluation of the work of judges began with the introduction of the «Judge Awaiting Destination» designation. Today I am a judge assigned to the Madrid region, providing support for the Social Courts, although my true passion lies in civil law and family law in particular to which I hope to return soon. Previously I served in Arganda del Rey, Majadahonda, Villena and Torrejón de Ardoz. I spent four years in the Technical Cabinet of the Supreme Court, First Chamber and as analyst for the Judicial Documentation Centre (CENDOJ). For me, being a judge is about giving back to society something of what it has given me. I believe in our social work, even if it is only possible under the prism of authority of the authority of a State Power. I’m a Vitorina because of the Association’s practical sense, its sense of possibility, its independence, its modernity, the Vitorino sense of humour and the camaraderie. I never choose the easy path. I’m always thinking about a new project.

A Madrileño and a Granadino, I’m a fan of both Atlético de Madrid and the bullfighter Curro Romero. I joined the legal profession in 2011 through the call for jurists of recognised competence. Previously, I worked as Counsel for Granada City Council, having qualified by examination in 1997. I’m currently assigned to Appeals Court No. 9 of Seville. I previously served in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the Appeals Chamber of the Higher Courts of Justice of Andalusia in Granada, on services commission, and in Algeciras. I have special memories of all these places, and in particular of the colleagues with whom I shared my work. Being a judge means exercising an essential function to ensure peaceful coexistence, but it also allows you to really enjoy the Law, freely, with the only limitation being the legal system itself. I believe that of all the legal professions this is the most rewarding.  For me it is an immense honour to be among the judges of Spain. Jurists who in their immense majority are extraordinary, vocational and committed to the common good. The women and men who make up this big family that is the Francisco de Vitoria Judges Association practice and live this profession with responsibility, with dedication, complete independence, pride in our mission and at the same time with joy and camaraderie. It is a way of understanding the life of a judge that coincides with what I believe Justice needs in these times we live in.

A Madrileño by birth (1964), I’m a Murciano by marriage and a Canarian every day the sun rises. And Spanish, obviously! I started out in 1992 and I’ve certainly given my robe plenty of wear over years since. First I was assigned to the Mixed Courts, in Mollet del Vallés, Puerto de la Cruz and La Orotava, and after six years I was promoted to the Criminal Court of Las Palmas. I then spent ten years in the Social Court (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) and was then assigned to the Appeals Court (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) in 2009, where I still serve today. Every order has taught me a lot and has given me a unique perspective. Being a judge demands that you learn every day and never take anything for granted. I believe in the satisfaction of duty fulfilled without expecting awards or recompense. Being a Vitorino is about having the serenity to expect nothing, the independent attitude, the positive vision, and the disposition to share good conversation with colleagues.

I was born in 1962 in Burgos, although my Castilian roots have long since been uprooted to the south, where all my postings have been, with the exception of a period at the Criminal Courts of Barakaldo. I have been Judge in Ibi, Órgiva, Motril, Melilla (Mixed, Juvenile and Social Courts) and Granada (Instruction) and I am currently assigned to the First Section (Criminal) of the Provincial Court of Granada. As you can see, I have done everything in almost thirty years in the Legal Profession (I joined in 1989) because I have also served as Counsel for the General Council of the Judiciary (2012-2014) and I oversee the support cabinet of the Supreme Court of Justice of Andalusia. I’m a Judge because that’s what I wanted to be; I’ve always thought of the possibility of helping others, deciding and resolving problems and disputes, to try to be just and to do so with a sense of independence. There is nothing close to it in any other area of the legal sector. It may sound somewhat quixotic, but in this Profession the cause is never far away and ideals are too often dispelled. Perhaps this is why I’ve been a Vitorino since the day I became a Judge and I remain one to this day, determined to make these goals we share a reality in order to serve others better. That’s why it is an honour to be part of this group of women and men who work to make our society freer and fairer, despite not expecting much in return.