National
Supreme Court archives case against the President of the Constitutional Court
By h.b.
Jun 5, 2008 - 11:37 PM

The Penal Hall of the Supreme Court in Madrid has unanimously decided to archive the investigation into the President of the Constitutional Court, María Emilia Casas.

It comes after a details of telephone conversation she had with a women who, though a friend they had in common, had turned to her for help in a family matter and dispute she had with her ex husband over the custody of her daughter. At the centre of the case was a phone call made in April last year, at the insistence of the friend, Dolores Martín, which was recorded by the Civil Guard.

Maria Emilia Casas read the documentation on the case which she was sent, and then called the friend without knowing that she was a lawyer. During the conversation the friend admitted that she was being investigated for the death of her husband, and the President of the Constitutional Court gave her the phone numbers of two lawyers specialist in domestic violence, and told her that she would advise her if the case reached the Constitutional Court.

It was that last statement which was at the centre of the allegations in the case, but the Supreme Court has now considered that such a statement did not amount to legal advice, the magistrate did not compromise her impartiality, and that no crime had been committed.