In plenary session, the Criminal Division of the National Court has formally declared that judge Baltasar Garzón has no jurisdiction to investigate the disappearances that occurred during the Civil War and the subsequent Franco regime.
The decsision was taken after four hours of debate, the vote being 14 in favour and 3 against the decision. Judge Garzón began his investigations on October 16th after declaring himself competent to carry out such a task, but the Chief Prosecutor lodged an objection.
Families now wanting to locate the final resting place of long lost relatives must now do so via the regional and provincial courts.