List of presidents of the Supreme Court of Spain

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The president of the Supreme Court is the head of the Supreme Court of Spain, an office created in 1812. Since 1980, the president of the Supreme Court is also the president of the General Council of the Judiciary, the governing body of the Judiciary of Spain. As such, the president is the defined in Section 105 of the Judiciary Organic Act as the "first judicial authority of the Nation" and "represents the Judicial Power and its governing body".^[1] That precept also establishes that, the president will hold those "category and honors" corresponding to the holder of one of the three powers of the State.^[1]

List of presidents of the Supreme Court

Since its creation in 1812, 48 people have served as president in 49 presidencies, and one as acting president. The first president was Ramón Posada y Soto who served during the first period of live of the institution from 1812 to 1814. The shortest presidency was that of José Hevia y Noriega who served 113 days and the longest was that of José Castán Tobeñas who served 22 years and 81 days. Lorenzo Arrazola y García has been the only person to serve in two different terms, the first between 1851 and 1853 and the second time from 1856 to 1864.

Eight of them have also held the position of president of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ). The first holder was Federico Carlos Sainz de Robles y Rodríguez from 1980 to 1986. Carlos Lesmes was the longest-serving president of the CGPJ, serving for 8 years, 305 days.

The current and 49th president of the Supreme Court, as well as 9th president of the General Council of the Judiciary is Isabel Perelló, since September 2024.^[2]^[3]

President^[4]		Tenure	Tenure length	Prior/other position	Head of State
1	Ramón Posada y Soto (1746–1815)	12 June 1812 – 4 May 1814	1 year, 326 days	Indies Councilor (1810–1812)	Ferdinand VII
Office abolished between 1814 and 1820
2	Antonio Cano Manuel y Ramírez de Arellano (1774–1838)	27 May 1820 – 27 May 1823	3 years, 0 days	State Councilor (1820)
Office abolished between 1823 and 1834
3	José Hevia y Noriega (1776–1834)	1 April 1834 – 23 July 1834 (died)	113 days	State Councilor (1833–1834)	Isabella II
4	Vicente Cano Manuel y Ramírez de Arellano (1774–1838)	29 July 1834 – 9 January 1838 (died)	3 years, 164 days	Minister of Grace and Justice (1821–1822)
5	Francisco Fernández del Pino Burgos-León (1768–1843)	10 February 1838 – 2 September 1840	2 years, 205 days	President of the Finance Supreme Court (1834–1835)
6	José María Calatrava y Peinado (1781–1846)	31 October 1840 – 29 July 1843	2 years, 271 days	92nd President of the Congress of Deputies (1839)
7	Nicolás María Garelli (1777–1850)	15 December 1843 – 12 February 1850 (died)	6 years, 59 days	Senator for Valencia (1843)
8	José María Manescau (1772–1850)	22 February 1850 – 22 December 1850 (died)	303 days	Senator for life (1849–1850)
9	Lorenzo Arrazola y García (1795–1873)	23 January 1851 – 9 April 1853	2 years, 76 days	Minister of Grace and Justice (1849–1851)
10	Francisco Olabarrieta y Urquijo (1784–1858)	3 June 1853 – 8 December 1854	1 year, 188 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1843–1853)
11	José Alonso Ruiz de Conejares (1781–1855)	8 December 1854 – 13 April 1855 (died)	126 days	Minister of Grace and Justice (1854)
12	Claudio Antón de Luzuriaga (1792–1874)	14 November 1855 – 17 October 1856	338 days	Minister of State (1854–1855)
13	Lorenzo Arrazola y García (1795–1873)	17 October 1856 – 16 September 1864	7 years, 335 days	8th President of the Supreme Court (1851–1853)
14	Ramón López Vázquez (1807–1868)	30 September 1864 – 13 October 1868 (retired)	4 years, 15 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1856–1864)
15	Joaquín Aguirre de la Peña (1807–1869)	13 October 1868 – 19 July 1869 (died)	279 days	Chairman of the Revolutionary Superior Junta (1868)	Francisco Serrano (regent)
16	Pedro Gómez de la Serna (1806–1871)	20 July 1869 – 12 December 1871 (died)	2 years, 145 days	7th Attorney General (1854–1856)	Francisco Serrano (regent)
16	Pedro Gómez de la Serna (1806–1871)	20 July 1869 – 12 December 1871 (died)	2 years, 145 days	7th Attorney General (1854–1856)	Amadeo I
17	Cirilo Álvarez Martínez de Velasco (1807–1878)	8 January 1872 – 6 November 1878 (died)	6 years, 302 days	Senator for Madrid (1872)	Amadeo I
17	Cirilo Álvarez Martínez de Velasco (1807–1878)	8 January 1872 – 6 November 1878 (died)	6 years, 302 days	Senator for Madrid (1872)	See presidents of the First Republic
18	Fernando Calderón Collantes (1811–1890)	6 January 1879 – 23 July 1882 (retired)	3 years, 198 days	Minister of Grace and Justice (1877–1879)	See presidents of the First Republic
18	Fernando Calderón Collantes (1811–1890)	6 January 1879 – 23 July 1882 (retired)	3 years, 198 days	Minister of Grace and Justice (1877–1879)	Alfonso XII
19	Eduardo Alonso Colmenares (1820–1888)	23 July 1882 – 31 March 1888 (died)	5 years, 252 days	Senator for life (1877–1882)	Alfonso XII
19	Eduardo Alonso Colmenares (1820–1888)	23 July 1882 – 31 March 1888 (died)	5 years, 252 days	Senator for life (1877–1882)	Alfonso XIII
20	Eugenio Montero Ríos (1832–1914)	7 May 1888 – 10 September 1888	126 days	Minister of Development (1885–1886)
21	Hilario Igón y del Royst (?–1895)	8 July 1889 – 16 July 1892 (retired)	3 years, 8 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1875–1889)
22	Emilio Bravo y Romero (1827–1893)	29 July 1892 – 24 January 1893 (died)	179 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1874–1892)
23	Juan Francisco Bustamante (1824–1898)	30 March 1894 – 10 September 1895 (retired)	2 years, 164 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1875–1889)
24	Santos Isasa y Valseca (1822–1907)	10 September 1895 – 5 June 1901 (resigned)	5 years, 268 days	17th Governor of the Bank of Spain (1895)
25	Eduardo Martínez del Campo y Acosta (1840–1911)	5 June 1901 – 21 October 1909 (resigned)	8 years, 138 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1891–1901)
26	José Aldecoa y Villasante (1838–1917)	17 January 1910 – 19 June 1917 (died)	8 years, 153 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1883–1910)
27	José Ciudad Aurioles (1849–1924)	15 November 1917 – 5 March 1923 (retired)	5 years, 108 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1903–1917)
28	Buenaventura Muñoz Rodríguez (1853–1925)	5 March 1923 – 7 February 1924 (retired)	339 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1910–1923)
29	Andrés Tornos y Alonso (1854–1926)	7 February 1924 – 30 November 1926 (died)	3 years, 296 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1912–1924)
30	Rafael Bermejo Ceballos-Escalera (1857–1929)	7 December 1926 – 28 January 1929^[5]^[6] (died)	2 years, 52 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1910–1926)
31	Francisco García Goyena y Alzugaray (1859–1935)	4 February 1929 – 25 April 1930 (retired)	1 year, 80 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1904–1929)
32	Antonio Marín de la Bárcena (1858–1930)	25 April 1930 – 6 October 1930 (died)	164 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1909–1930)
33	José María Ortega Morejón (1860–1948)	23 October 1930 – 20 April 1931 (retired)	179 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1918–1930)
34	Diego Medina y García (1866–1942)	6 May 1931 – 21 August 1936 (retired)	5 years, 107 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1930–1931)	See presidents of the Second Republic
35	Mariano Gómez González (1883–1951)	21 August 1936 – 1 April 1939 (exiled)	2 years, 223 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1932–1936)	See presidents of the Second Republic
36	Felipe Clemente de Diego y Gutiérrez (1866–1945)	27 August 1938 – 15 August 1945 (died)	6 years, 353 days	Member of the General Codification Commission (1938)	Francisco Franco
37	José Castán Tobeñas (1889–1969)	12 September 1945 – 2 December 1967^[7]	22 years, 81 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1934–1945)
38	Francisco Ruiz-Jarabo (1901–1990)	12 January 1968^[8] – 12 June 1973	5 years, 151 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1944–1945)
39	Valentín Silva Melero (1905–1982)	13 July 1973^[9] – 4 August 1977^[10]	4 years, 22 days	Member of Parliament (1949–1973)
39	Valentín Silva Melero (1905–1982)	13 July 1973^[9] – 4 August 1977^[10]	4 years, 22 days	Member of Parliament (1949–1973)	Juan Carlos I
40	Ángel Escudero del Corral (1916–2001)	4 August 1977^[11] – 24 October 1980	3 years, 81 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1967–1977)	Juan Carlos I
Presidents of the Supreme Court and of the General Council of the Judiciary (1980–present)
41	Federico Carlos Sainz de Robles y Rodríguez (1927–2005)	24 October 1980 – 29 October 1985	5 years, 5 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1979–1980)	Juan Carlos I
42	Antonio Hernández Gil (1915–1994)	25 October 1985^[12] – 8 November 1990	5 years, 14 days	President of the Council of State (1982–1985)
43	Pascual Sala (1935–)	8 November 1990^[13] – 25 July 1996	5 years, 261 days	President of the Court of Auditors (1988–1990)
44	Javier Delgado Barrio (1932–)	25 July 1996^[14] – 8 November 2001	5 years, 126 days	Magistrate of the Constitutional Court (1995–1996)
45	Francisco José Hernando (1936–2013)	8 November 2001^[15] – 26 September 2008	6 years, 323 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1986–2001)
46	Carlos Dívar (1941–2017)	26 September 2008^[16] – 30 June 2012 (resigned)	3 years, 278 days	7th President of the National Court (2001–2008)
47	Gonzalo Moliner (1944–)	21 July 2012^[17] – 11 December 2013	1 year, 143 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (1998–2008)
48	Carlos Lesmes (1958–)	11 December 2013 – 12 October 2022	8 years, 305 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (2010–2013)
48	Carlos Lesmes (1958–)	11 December 2013 – 12 October 2022	8 years, 305 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (2010–2013)	Felipe VI
-	Francisco Marín Castán (1952–)	13 October 2022 – 4 September 2024	1 year, 327 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (2000–2022)
49	Isabel Perelló (1958–)	4 September 2024 – present	6 days	Magistrate of the Supreme Court (2009–2024)

References

^ ^a ^b "Ley Orgánica 6/1985, de 1 de julio, del Poder Judicial". www.boe.es. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
^ Jiménez, Pedro (3 September 2024). "Isabel Perelló se convierte en la primera mujer en presidir el Poder Judicial". Cadena SER (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 September 2024.
^ Martialay, Ángela (3 September 2024). "El CGPJ elige por 16 votos a la progresista Isabel Perelló como nueva presidenta del Poder Judicial". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 September 2024.
^ * Díaz Sampedro, Braulio. La politización de la justicia: El Tribunal Supremo (1836–1881), memoria para optar al grado de doctor. Madrid: Universidad Complutense, 2004. PP.296–297. ISBN 84-669-2484-1.
^ Diario ABC (30-01-1929), p. 32.
^ Diario ABC (17-09-1929), p. 27.
^ "Decreto 2904/1967, de 2 de diciembre, por el que se dispone cese en el cargo de Presidente del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia don José Castán Tobeñas". www.boe.es. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^ "Decreto 34/1968, de 11 de enero, por el que se nombra Presidente del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia a don Francisco Ruiz Jarabo" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^ "Decreto 1502/1973, de 12 de julio, por el que se nombra Presidente del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia a don Valentín Silva Melero" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^ "Real Decreto 1974/1977, de 2 de agosto, por el que se dispone cese en el cargo de Presidente del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia, el excelentísimo señor don Valentín Silva Melero" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^ "Real Decreto 1975/1977, de 2 de agosto, por el que se nombra Presidente del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia al excelentísimo señor don Angel Escudero del Corral" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^ "Real Decreto 1953/1985, de 23 de octubre, por el que se nombra Presidente del Tribunal Supremo y del Consejo General del Poder Judicial a don Antonio Hernández Gil" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^ "Real Decreto 1348/1990, de 7 de noviembre, por el que se nombra Presidente del Tribunal Supremo y del Consejo General del Poder Judicial a don Pascual Sala Sánchez" (PDF). www.boe.es. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^ "Real Decreto 1840/1996, de 24 de julio, por el que se nombra Presidente del Tribunal Supremo y del Consejo General del Poder Judicial a don Francisco Javier Delgado Barrio". www.boe.es. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
^ "Real Decreto 1224/2001, de 7 de noviembre, por el que se nombra Presidente del Tribunal Supremo y del Consejo General del Poder Judicial a don Francisco José Hernando Santiago". boe.es. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
^ "Real Decreto 1576/2008, de 24 de septiembre, por el que se nombra Presidente del Tribunal Supremo y del Consejo General del Poder Judicial a don José Carlos Dívar Blanco". boe.es. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
^ [Real Decreto 1110/2012, de 20 de julio, por el que se nombra Presidente del Tribunal Supremo y del Consejo General del Poder Judicial a don Gonzalo Moliner Tamborero. "BOE.es - Documento BOE-A-2012-9777"]. boe.es. Retrieved 14 September 2020. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)