Álvaro García Ortiz, the former Attorney General of Spain, has formally appealed to the Supreme Court seeking to exclude the Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Madrid (ICAM) from the calculation of legal costs associated with his recent conviction. The Supreme Court had initially determined the costs to be approximately 80,000 euros following García Ortiz’s conviction for revealing secrets. His defense team argues that this amount is excessively high and has proposed a much lower figure of 4,240 euros instead.

The core of the appeal hinges on the accusation of bias against the ICAM, which previously acted as a popular accusation in the proceedings against García Ortiz. The defense asserts that because ICAM was involved in opposing him, its participation in calculating the costs creates a conflict of interest. The appeal is thus not only about the specific financial repercussion but also raises wider questions about impartiality within legal processes and the involvement of legal institutions in cases where they have played a prosecutorial role.

As the Supreme Court processes this appeal, they are expected to seek a report from the Madrid Bar Association to inform their decision. This case signifies not just a personal challenge for García Ortiz but also reflects broader concerns about how various legal entities can influence outcomes in the Spanish judicial system, especially in high-profile cases involving former government officials.