Ministry of Justice (Spain)

The Ministry of Justice (MJUS) was the department of the Government of Spain responsible for preparing and carrying out the government policy in order to bring the legal system off, specially in criminal, civil, commercial and procedural law affairs, supporting the Administration of Justice and the legal and international cooperation.

Ministry of Justice

Ministerio de Justicia
Headquarters of the Ministry
Agency overview
Formed	30 November 1714 (1714-11-30) (as Secretary of State and of the Dispatch of Ecclesiastical Issues, Justice and Jurisdiction)
Preceding agency	Ministry of Justice and Interior
Dissolved	20 November 2023
Superseding agency	Ministry of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes
Type	Ministry
Jurisdiction	Government of Spain
Headquarters	Palacio de la Marquesa de la Sonora (Madrid)
Annual budget	€ 2.5 billion, 2023
Website	Ministry of Justice(in Spanish)

Likewise, it was responsible for processing the documents relative to grace right, titles of nobility and Grandees which resolution is given by the King and is carried out by the Council of Ministers, giving legal attendance to the State administrations and it is the communication channel of the Government with the Administration of Justice, with the General Council of the Judiciary and with the Prosecution Ministry, through the Attorney General, as well as with the governing bodies of the autonomous communities with judicial responsibilities, the Spanish Data Protection Agency and the associations of legal experts.

The MJUS was headed by the Minister of Justice, who is appointed by the King of Spain at request of the Prime Minister, after hearing the Council of Ministers. The Minister is assisted by three main officials, the Secretary of State for Justice, the Under Secretary of Justice and the Secretary-General for Innovation and Quality of the Public Justice Service. The Solicitor General depends from the Minister. The present last minister of justice under this ministry was Pilar Llop, who served from 2021 to 2023.

The ministry had its headquarters in the Palace of the Marchioness of Sonora, Madrid.

History

Further information: Secretary of State (Ancient Regime in Spain)

Origin

The administration of justice was a real prerogative and would continue being it until the 19th century, with the firsts constitutions. However, the monarchs already delegate its judicial powers on civil servants in charge of administering justice but the first time that a kind-of government department was created for judicial affairs was in 1705. That year, King Philip V split the Secretariat of the Universal Dispatch into two secretariats, one for War and Treasury and other «for everything else», which primarily included justice and religion affairs.

The beginnings

However, the true germ of the ministry is found in the Royal Decree of 30 November 1714, which, similar to the French model, divided matters by subject, creating four Secretariats of the Dispatch, among which was the Secretariat of State and of the Dispatch of Ecclesiastical Affairs, Justice and Jurisdiction, in charge of religious affairs, maintenance of royalties from the Crown, the regime of universities, and justice and jurisdiction of Councils and courts, especially in appointments. This secretariat was assumed by Manuel Vadillo Velasco who previously assumed the «Secretariat of the Dispatch for everything else».

This Secretariat of State and of the Dispatch of Ecclesiastical Affairs, Justice and Jurisdiction is renamed Secretariat of the Dispatch of Justice, Political Government and Treasury of Spain and the Indies on 2 April 1717, since it assumes the powers of the Treasury after the General Supervision had been eliminated and after being merged most of the Secretariats of the Dispatch, preserving just three of them. However, this situation will last a short time because in December 1720 the Treasury business regained autonomy, splitting from the Ministry of Justice.

Grace and Justice

The great reforms carried out by Ferdinand VI in 1754-1755 established the definitive classification of the Secretariats of the Dispatch and their powers. Thus, between 15 May 1754 and 14 May 1755, by a series of Royal Decrees, the Secretariats of the Dispatch become five (the Treasury one is re-created), and they are endowed with a permanent organization. In the case of the Secretariat of Ecclesiastical Affairs, Justice and Jurisdiction, by the Decree of 16 August 1754, it changes its name to «Secretariat of State and of the Dispatch of Grace and Justice». The subsequent reform of the year 1787 gives rise to a greater division of the Secretariats, as a solution to the accumulation of affairs and businesses from the Indies.

As for the functions of this Secretariat of the Dispatch of Grace and Justice, it corresponded to it the matters previously dealt with by the Chamber of Castile and the Royal Council, basically those relating to royal patronage, ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and the organization and operation of the Courts of Justice. Thus, it was attributed to this Secretariat everything to the appointments of archbishops, bishops, ecclesiastical dignities, perks, trades and chaplaincies; the government of courts and chancery, the appointment of its presidents, governors and ministers, and the resources of justice; the provision of the corregimientos not destined to war and property; the conservation of royalties of the Crown, as well as the dispatch of what is convenient to the royal houses and the provision of their jobs and the care of the observance of laws and pragmatics.

In 1787, the pre-existing Secretariat of the Navy and the Indies is divided into three, with the names of: Navy, Grace and Justice of the Indies, and War, Treasury, Commerce and Navigation of the Indies, bringing the judicial affairs of the Indies to this moment assumed by the Indies Secretariat to a new the Secretariat of Grace and Justice of the Indies. However, this reform did not end the problems it had tried to remedy, so by Royal Decree of 25 April 1790, the classic division into five Secretaries of State and of the Dispatch was re-established: «State», «War», «Navy», «Treasury» and «Grace and Justice», each of which assumed the corresponding matters to the Indies. This division of the different branches of the Administration will be maintained until the Cortes of Cádiz, which will introduce other reforms.

The Ministry

A demonstration for freedom of worship in front of the Ministry's headquarters. 1869.

In 1812, the name «Secretariat of the Dispatch of Grace and Justice» was changed to «Ministry of Grace and Justice». But in fact, already the Statute of Bayonne of 1808 and the Constitution of 1837 used the term «minister» to refer to the secretaries of the Dispatch, since both terms were used as synonyms until the Royal Decree of 20 September 1851 changed the name of the Secretariat of State and of the Dispatch of Public Works to Ministry of Development, making official the denomination of «ministries» for the former Secretariats of the Dispatch and, consequently, it is definitively called Ministry of Grace and Justice.

Since then, the Ministry of Justice has hardly changed (except for those of internal organization) and the most significant changes were in the Second Republic, specifically on 14 April 1931, when it was renamed «Ministry of Justice» and the period from 25 September 1935 to 19 February 1936, in which the name of the department was «Ministry of Labor, Health and Justice».

Already in democracy, the most significant change was between May 1994 and May 1996, when it merged with the Ministry of the Interior, giving rise to the Ministry of Justice and the Interior.

In 2020, the department lost the powers over the fundamental right of freedom of worship and the matters related with the Historical Memory Act.

In November 2023, the Ministry was disestablished and it was merged with the Ministry of the Presidency. It was the second time in three centuries that the Ministry of Justice was abolished after its merger with the Ministry of the Interior from 1994 to 1996.

Organization chart

The Ministry of Justice was organised in the following managerial bodies:

• The Secretariat of State for Justice.
  • The General Secretariat for Innovation and Quality of the Public Justice Service.
    • The Directorate-General for the Public Justice Service.
    • The Directorate-General for the Digital Transformation of the Administration of Justice.
    • The Directorate-General for Legal Security and Certification.
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for Innovation and Quality of the Fiscal and Judicial Office.
  • The Directorate-General for International Legal Cooperation and Human Rights.
• The Undersecretary of Justice.
  • The Technical General Secretariat.
  • The Budget Office.
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Human Resources.
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Hiring and Economic Management.
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Building and Heritage.
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Administrative Information and General Inspection of Services.
  • The Division for the Right of Grace and other Rights.
• The Office of the Solicitor General.
  • The Directorate-General for Advisory Services.
  • The Directorate-General for Litigation Services.
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Human and Material Resources.
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights.
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for European Union and International Affairs.
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Internal Audit and Knowledge Management.
  • The Technical Cabinet of the Solicitor General.
  • The Offices of the Solicitor General at the Spanish regions and autonomous cities.

Agencies

• The Center for Legal Studies.
• The General Mutual Benefit Society for Civil Servants of the Administration of Justice.

First Notary of the Kingdom

Queen Maria Cristina swearing in as regent before the First Notary of the Kingdom.

First Notary of the Kingdom or Chief Notary of the Kingdom, in Spanish Notario Mayor del Reino is the title held by the Minister of Justice as the person in charge of giving faith of the big events of the country like taking oath of high-ranking officials of the Kingdom. Among its most important tasks is the record of the swearing and promises of the King or Queen, the Prime Minister, the Ministers and the Secretaries of State.

Likewise, the First Notary of the Kingdom also intervened in the civil acts of the Spanish royal family, raising the records of the births, marriages and deaths of their individuals, and authorizing their marital capitulations, powers, assignments and other provisions and contracts. Said protocols and other papers of the civil acts that concern the royal family are kept in the dependencies of the Directorate-General of Registries and Notaries.

The title is exercised ex officio, from its appointment until its cessation as Minister of Justice. This position does not confer any notarial authority nor does it have any relationship with the General Council of the Notariat (the nationwide organization who represents the notaries), whose highest authority is the President of the General Council.

In case of the absence of the minister himself and as public notary, the Director-General of the Registries and the Notary, who is the secretary of the First Notary's Office, acts as the Acting First Notary of the Kingdom.

List of ministers of justice of Spain

Pilar Llop, most recent Minister of Justice (2021–2023)

Reign of Joseph I (1808–1813)

Took office	Left office	Name
7 July 1808	1 August 1808	Sebastián Piñuela Alonso (1)
5 September 1808	27 February 1812	Manuel Romero (1)
27 February 1812	27 June 1813	Pablo Arribas(1)

Junta Suprema Central (1808–1812)

Took office	Left office	Name
15 February 1808	6 February 1810	Benito Ramón de la Hermida (3)
6 February 1810	19 January 1811	Nicolás María Sierra (3)
19 January 1811	12 August 1811	José Antonio Larrumbide Urquidizar (3)
12 August 1811	23 June 1812	Ignacio Pezuela (3)
23 June 1812	10 February 1813	Antonio Cano Ramírez de Arellano (3)
10 February 1813	4 May 1814	Manuel García Herreros (3)

Reign of Fernando VII (1814–1833)

Took office	Left office	Name
4 May 1814	8 November 1814	Pedro Macanaz (3)
8 November 1814	27 January 1816	Tomás Moyano (3)
27 January 1816	29 February 1816	Pedro Cevallos Guerra (3)
29 February 1816	29 January 1817	José García de León y Pizarro (3)
29 January 1817	1 November 1819	Juan Esteban Lozano de Torres (3)
1 November 1819	9 March 1820	Bernardo Mozo de Rosales (3)
9 March 1820	8 April 1820	José García de la Torre (3)
8 April 1820	2 March 1821	Manuel García Herreros (1)
2 March 1821	28 February 1822	Vicente Cano Manuel Ramírez de Arellano (1)
28 February 1822	23 July 1822	Nicolás María Garelli (1)
23 July 1822	5 August 1822	Damián de la Santa (1)
5 August 1822	12 May 1823	Felipe Benicio Navarro (1)
12 May 1823	30 September 1823	José María Calatrava (1)
30 September 1823	2 December 1823	José García de la Torre (3)
2 December 1823	18 January 1824	Narciso Heredia y Begines de los Ríos (3)
18 January 1824	1 February 1832	Francisco Tadeo Calomarde (3)
1 February 1832	14 December 1832	José Cafranga Costilla (3)
14 December 1832	25 March 1833	Francisco Fernández del Pino (3)
25 March 1833	29 November 1833	Juan Gualberto González Bravo Delgado (3)

Regency of María Cristina (1833–1840)

Took office	Left office	Name
29 November 1833	15 January 1834	Juan Gualberto González Bravo (1)
15 January 1834	17 February 1835	Nicolás María Garelli (1)
17 February 1835	13 June 1835	Juan de la Dehesa (1)
13 June 1835	27 September 1835	Manuel García Herreros (1)
29 September 1835	15 May 1836	Álvaro Gómez Becerra
15 May 1836	14 August 1836	Manuel Barrio Ayuso (1)
14 August 1836	18 August 1837	José Landero y Corchado (1)
18 August 1837	1 February 1837	Ramón Salvato (1)
1 February 1837	4 February 1837	Juan Antonio Castejón (1)
4 February 1837	16 December 1837	Pablo Mata Vigil (1)
16 December 1837	6 September 1838	Francisco Castro y Orozco (1)
6 September 1838	21 November 1838	Domingo Ruiz de la Vega (1)
21 November 1838	9 December 1838	Antonio González y González (1)
9 December 1838	20 July 1840	Lorenzo Arrazola (1)
20 July 1840	12 August 1840	Antonio González y González (1)
12 August 1840	29 August 1840	Francisco Agustín Silvela y Blanco (1)
29 August 1840	11 September 1840	Modesto Cortázar (1)
11 September 1840	16 September 1840	Álvaro Gómez Becerra (1)

Regency of Baldomero Espartero (1840–1843)

Took office	Left office	Name
16 September 1840	20 May 1841	Álvaro Gómez Becerra (1)
20 May 1841	17 June 1842	José Alonso Ruiz de Conejares (1)
17 June 1842	9 May 1843	Miguel Antonio de Zumalacarregui (1)
9 May 1843	19 May 1843	Joaquín María López (1)
19 May 1843	30 July 1843	Álvaro Gómez Becerra (1)

Reign of Isabel II (1843–1868)

Took office	Left office	Name
25 July 1843	24 November 1843	Joaquín María López (1)
24 November 1843	1 December 1843	Claudio Antón de Luzuriaga (1)
5 December 1843	12 February 1846	Luis Mayans y Enríquez de Navarra (1)
13 February 1846	16 March 1846	Lorenzo Arrazola (1)
16 March 1846	5 April 1846	Pedro Egaña (1)
5 April 1846	28 January 1847	Joaquín Díaz Caneja (1)
28 January 1847	28 March 1847	Juan Bravo Murillo (1)
30 March 1847	3 September 1847	Florencio Rodríguez Vaamonde (1)
3 September 1847	4 February 1847	Florencio García Goyena (1)
4 February 1847	19 February 1849	Lorenzo Arrazola (1)
19 February 1849	20 February 1849	José Manresa (1)
20 February 1849	14 January 1851	Lorenzo Arrazola (1)
14 January 1851	14 December 1852	Ventura González Romero (1)
14 December 1852	9 April 1853	Federico Vahey Alba (1)
14 April 1853	19 September 1853	Pablo Govantes (1)
19 September 1853	16 January 1854	José de Castro y Orozco (1)
16 January 1854	17 July 1854	Jacinto Félix Domenech (1)
18 July 1854	30 July 1854	Pedro Gómez de la Serna (1)
30 July 1854	29 November 1854	José Alonso Ruiz de Conejares (1)
29 November 1854	6 June 1855	Joaquín Aguirre de la Peña (1)
6 June 1855	15 January 1856	Manuel Fuente Andrés (1)
15 January 1856	14 July 1856	José Arias Uría (1)
14 July 1856	7 August 1856	Claudio Antón de Luzuriaga (1)
7 August 1856	12 February 1856	Cirilo Álvarez (1)
12 February 1856	15 February 1857	Manuel Seijas Lozano (1)
15 February 1857	25 February 1857	Fernando Álvarez (1)
25 February 1857	14 January 1858	Joaquín José Casaus (1)
14 January 1858	30 June 1858	José Fernández de la Hoz (1)
30 June 1858	17 January 1863	Santiago Fernández Negrete (1)
17 January 1863	9 February 1863	Nicomedes Pastor Díaz (1)
9 February 1863	2 March 1863	Pedro Nolasco Aurioles Aguado (1)
2 March 1863	17 January 1864	Rafael Monares Cebrián (1)
17 January 1864	1 March 1864	Fernando Álvarez (1)
1 March 1864	16 September 1864	Luis Mayans y Enríquez de Navarra (1)
16 September 1864	21 June 1865	Lorenzo Arrazola (1)
21 June 1865	10 July 1866	Fernando Calderón Collantes (1)
10 July 1866	27 June 1867	Lorenzo Arrazola (1)
27 June 1867	15 June 1868	Joaquín de Roncali y Ceruti (1)
15 June 1868	30 September 1868	Carlos María Coronado (1)

Sexenio Democrático

Took office	Left office	Name
8 February 1868	18 June 1869	Antonio Romero Ortiz (1)
18 June 1869	13 July 1869	Cristóbal Martín de Herrera (1)
13 July 1869	9 January 1870	Manuel Ruiz Zorrilla (1)
9 January 1870	4 January 1871	Eugenio Montero Ríos (1)

Reign of Amadeo I (1871–1873)

Took office	Left office	Name
4 January 1871	24 July 1871	Augusto Ulloa (1)
24 July 1871	5 October 1871	Eugenio Montero Ríos (1)
5 October 1871	26 May 1872	Eduardo Alonso Colmenares (1)
26 May 1872	13 June 1872	Alejandro Groizard (1)
13 June 1872	12 February 1873	Eugenio Montero Ríos (1)

First Spanish Republic (1873–1874)

Took office	Left office	Name
12 February 1873	11 June 1873	Nicolás Salmerón y Alonso (1)
11 June 1873	28 June 1873	José Fernando González (1)
28 June 1873	18 July 1873	Joaquín Gil Bergés (1)
19 July 1873	4 September 1873	Pedro José Moreno Rodríguez (1)
8 September 1873	3 January 1874	Luis del Río y Ramos (1)
3 January 1874	4 January 1874	Eugenio García Ruiz (1)
4 January 1874	13 May 1874	Cristino Martos Balbi (1)
13 May 1874	3 September 1874	Manuel Alonso Martínez (1)
3 September 1874	31 December 1874	Eduardo Alonso Colmenares (1)

Reign of Alfonso XII (1874–1885)

Took office	Left office	Name
31 December 1874	12 September 1875	Francisco de Cárdenas Espejo (1)
12 September 1875	2 December 1875	Fernando Calderón Collantes (1)
2 December 1875	14 January 1877	Cristóbal Martín de Herrera (1)
14 January 1877	6 January 1879	Fernando Calderón Collantes (1)
6 January 1879	7 March 1879	Saturnino Álvarez Bugallal (1)
7 March 1879	9 December 1879	Pedro Nolasco Aurioles Aguado (1)
9 December 1879	8 February 1881	Saturnino Álvarez Bugallal (1)
8 February 1881	9 January 1883	Manuel Alonso Martínez (1)
9 January 1883	13 October 1883	Vicente Romero Girón (1)
13 October 1883	18 January 1884	Aureliano Linares Rivas (1)
18 January 1881	27 November 1885	Francisco Silvela Le Vielleuze (1)

Regency of María Cristina (1885-1902)

Took office	Left office	Name
27 November 1885	11 December 1888	Manuel Alonso Martínez (1)
11 December 1888	21 January 1890	José Canalejas y Méndez (1)
21 January 1890	5 July 1890	Joaquín López Puigcerver (1)
5 July 1890	23 November 1891	Raimundo Fernández Villaverde (1)
23 November 1891	11 December 1892	Fernando Cos-Gayón y Pons (1)
11 December 1892	6 July 1893	Eugenio Montero Ríos (1)
6 July 1893	4 November 1894	Trinitario Ruiz Capdepón (1)
4 November 1894	23 March 1895	Antonio Maura Montaner (1)
23 March 1895	14 December 1895	Francisco Romero Robledo (1)
14 December 1895	4 October 1897	Manuel Aguirre de Tejada (1)
4 October 1897	4 March 1899	Alejandro Groizard y Gómez de la Serna (1)
4 March 1899	24 October 1899	Manuel Durán y Bas (1)
24 October 1899	18 April 1900	Luis María de la Torre y de la Hoz (1)
18 April 1900	6 March 1901	Francisco Javier González de Castejón y Elío (1)
6 March 1901	19 March 1902	Julián García-San Miguel (1)
19 March 1902	17 May 1902	Juan Montilla y Adán (1)

Reign of Alfonso XIII (1902-1923)

Took office	Left office	Name
17 May 1902	15 November 1902	Juan Montilla y Adán (1)
15 November 1902	6 December 1902	Joaquín López Puigcerver (1)
6 December 1902	20 July 1903	Eduardo Dato Iradier (1)
20 July 1903	5 December 1903	Francisco Guzmán y Carballeda (1)
5 December 1903	16 December 1904	Joaquín Sánchez de Toca (1)
16 December 1904	23 June 1905	Francisco Javier Ugarte Pagés (1)
23 June 1905	31 October 1905	Joaquín González de la Peña (1)
31 October 1905	1 December 1905	Joaquín López Puigcerver (1)
1 December 1905	10 June 1906	Manuel García Prieto (1)
10 June 1906	6 July 1906	José María Celleruelo Poviones (1)
6 July 1906	30 November 1906	Álvaro de Figueroa y Torres (1)
30 November 1906	25 January 1907	Antonio Barroso Castillo (1)
25 January 1907	21 October 1909	Juan Armada y Losada (1)
21 October 1909	9 February 1910	Eduardo Martínez del Campo y Acosta (1)
9 February 1910	3 April 1911	Trinitario Ruiz Valarino (1)
3 April 1911	29 June 1911	Antonio Barroso Castillo (1)
29 June 1911	12 March 1912	José Canalejas y Méndez (1)
3 April 1911	29 June 1911	Trinitario Ruiz Valarino (1)
29 June 1911	12 March 1912	José Canalejas y Méndez (1)
12 March 1912	31 December 1912	Diego Arias de Miranda y Goytia (1)
31 December 1912	24 May 1913	Antonio Barroso Castillo (1)
24 May 1913	13 June 1913	Álvaro de Figueroa y Torres (1)
13 June 1913	27 October 1913	Pedro Rodríguez de la Borbolla (1)
27 October 1913	7 September 1914	Francisco Javier González de Castejón y Elío (1)
7 September 1914	4 January 1915	Eduardo Dato Iradier (1)
4 January 1915	9 December 1915	Manuel de Burgos y Mazo (1)
9 December 1915	8 October 1916	Antonio Barroso Castillo (1)
8 October 1916	19 April 1917	Juan Alvarado y del Saz (1)
19 April 1917	11 June 1917	Trinitario Ruiz Valarino (1)
11 June 1917	3 November 1917	Manuel de Burgos y Mazo (1)
3 November 1917	22 March 1918	Joaquín Fernández Prida (1)
22 March 1918	10 October 1918	Álvaro de Figueroa y Torres (1)
10 October 1918	9 November 1918	Antonio Maura y Montaner (1)
9 November 1918	5 December 1918	José Roig y Berdagá (1)
5 December 1918	15 April 1919	Alejandro Roselló y Pastors (1)
15 April 1919	20 July 1919	José Bahamonde y de Lanz (1)
20 July 1919	12 December 1919	Pascual Amat y Esteve (1)
12 December 1919	5 May 1920	Pablo Garnica y Echevarría (1)
5 May 1920	1 September 1920	Gabino Bugallal Araújo (1)
1 September 1920	13 March 1921	Mariano Ordóñez García (1)
13 March 1921	7 July 1921	Vicente Piniés Bayona (1)
7 July 1921	14 August 1921	Julio Wais San Martín (1)
14 August 1921	8 March 1922	José Francos Rodríguez (1)
8 March 1922	1 April 1922	José Bertrán y Musitu (1)
1 April 1922	4 December 1922	Mariano Ordóñez García (1)
4 December 1922	7 December 1922	Carlos Cañal y Migolla (1)
7 December 1922	26 May 1923	Álvaro de Figueroa y Torres (1)
26 May 1923	15 September 1923	Antonio López Muñoz (1)

Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923-1931)

Took office	Left office	Name
17 September 1923	21 December 1923	Fernando Cadalso Manzano (1)
21 December 1923	22 January 1924	Ernesto Jiménez Sánchez (1)
22 January 1924	3 December 1925	Francisco García Goyena y Alzugaray (1)
3 December 1925	3 November 1928	Galo Ponte y Escartín (1)
3 November 1928	30 January 1930	Galo Ponte y Escartín (2)
30 January 1930	25 November 1930	José Estrada y Estrada (2)
25 November 1930	18 February 1931	Joaquín de Montes Jovellar (2)
18 February 1931	14 April 1931	Manuel García Prieto (2)

Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939)

Took office	Left office	Name	Party
14 April 1931	16 December 1931	Fernando de los Ríos Urruti	PSOE
16 December 1931	4 July 1933	Álvaro de Albornoz Liminiana	PRS
4 July 1933	12 September 1933	Santiago Casares Quiroga	FRG
12 September 1933	29 November 1933	Juan Botella Asensi	IRS
29 November 1933	16 December 1933	Domingo Barnés Salinas	Indep.
16 December 1933	17 April 1934	Ramón Álvarez Valdés	PLD
17 April 1934	28 April 1934	Salvador de Madariaga Rojo	Indep.
28 April 1934	4 October 1934	Vicente Cantos Figuerola	PRR
4 October 1934	3 April 1935	Rafael Aizpún Santafé	CEDA
3 April 1935	6 May 1935	Vicente Cantos Figuerola	PRR
6 May 1935	25 September 1935	Cándido Casanueva y Gorjón	CEDA
25 September 1935	14 December 1935	Federico Salmón Amorín (4)	CEDA
14 December 1935	30 December 1935	Alfredo Martínez García (5)	PLD
30 December 1935	19 February 1936	Manuel Becerra Fernández (5)	PC
19 February 1936	13 May 1936	Antonio Lara Zárate	Republican Union
13 May 1936	4 September 1936	Manuel Blasco Garzón	Republican Union
4 September 1936	4 November 1936	Mariano Ruiz-Funes García	IR
4 November 1936	17 May 1937	Juan García Oliver	CNT
17 May 1937	11 December 1937	Manuel de Irujo y Ollo	PNV
11 December 1937	5 April 1938	Tomás Bilbao Hospitalet	ANV
5 April 1938	1 April 1939	Ramón González Peña	PSOE

Francoism (1939-1975)

Took office	Left office	Name
3 October 1936	30 January 1938	José Cortés López
30 January 1938	9 August 1939	Tomás Domínguez Arévalo
9 August 1939	16 March 1943	Esteban Bilbao y Eguía
16 March 1943	18 July 1945	Eduardo Aunós
18 July 1945	18 July 1951	Raimundo Fernández-Cuesta
18 July 1951	7 July 1965	Antonio Iturmendi Bañales
7 July 1965	9 June 1973	Antonio María de Oriol y Urquijo
9 June 1973	11 March 1975	Francisco Ruiz-Jarabo
11 March 1975	12 December 1975	José María Sánchez-Ventura

Reign of Juan Carlos I (1975–2014)

Took office	Left office	Name		Party		Prime Minister
12 December 1975	5 July 1976		Antonio Garrigues Díaz-Cañabate
5 July 1976	4 July 1977		Landelino Lavilla Alsina
4 July 1977	6 April 1979		Landelino Lavilla Alsina		UCD		Adolfo Suárez
5 July 1979	9 September 1980		Íñigo Cavero Lataillade		UCD
9 September 1980	1 September 1981		Francisco Fernández Ordóñez		UCD
1 September 1981	3 December 1982		Pío Cabanillas Gallas		UCD		Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo
2 December 1982	12 July 1988		Fernando Ledesma Bartret		PSOE		Felipe González
12 July 1988	12 March 1991		Enrique Múgica Herzog		PSOE
12 March 1991	13 July 1993		Tomás de la Quadra-Salcedo		PSOE
14 July 1993	19 December 1995		Juan Alberto Belloch		PSOE
5 May 1996	27 April 2000		Margarita Mariscal de Gante		PP		José María Aznar
28 April 2000	10 July 2002		Ángel Acebes Paniagua		PP
10 July 2002	18 April 2004		José María Michavila		PP
18 April 2004	12 February 2007		Juan Fernando López Aguilar		PSOE		José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
12 February 2007	23 February 2009		Mariano Fernández Bermejo		PSOE
23 February 2009	22 December 2011		Francisco Caamaño Domínguez		PSOE
22 December 2011	23 September 2014		Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón		PP		Mariano Rajoy

Reign of Felipe VI (since 2014)

Took office	Left office	Name		Party		Prime Minister
23 September 2014	29 September 2014		Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría		PP (Interim)		Mariano Rajoy
29 September 2014	7 June 2018		Rafael Catalá Polo		PP
7 June 2018	13 January 2020		Dolores Delgado García		Independent		Pedro Sánchez
13 January 2020	12 July 2021		Juan Carlos Campo		PSOE
12 July 2021	21 November 2023		Pilar Llop Cuenca		PSOE

If the Minister has no number, their title was Minister of Justice.

1. Minister of Grace and Justice
2. Minister of Justice and Religion
3. Secretary of the Office of Grace and Justice
4. Minister of Labour and Justice
5. Minister of Labour, Justice and Health
6. Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes

See also

• Justice ministry
• List of ministers of justice of Catalonia
• Public Prosecutor (Autonomous Communities of Spain)

External links

• Ministry of Justice
• Ministry of Justice (in Spanish)