The number of female judges in Spain has been on the rise in the past decade, with significant growth in their representation in judicial bodies such as the Supreme Court, National Court, Regional Courts of Justice, and Provincial Courts. Despite making up the majority of the judicial career, women still remain a minority in these collegiate bodies, where appointments are based on seniority or discretionary selection by the Council. However, the percentage of women in these positions has increased from 32.7% in 2014 to 42.3% in 2024, according to the latest report from the Statistical Service of the General Council of the Judiciary.
Currently, out of the 1,597 active judges and magistrates in collegiate bodies, 676 are women, with the majority being in Provincial Courts, followed by Regional Courts of Justice, National Court, and the Supreme Court, where no new appointments have been made since 2021 due to legislation preventing discretionary appointments. Overall, women make up 57.2% of the judicial career in Spain, a significant increase from the 50.1% they represented in 2014. This trend is seen across various regions, with women outnumbering men in eleven out of the 17 Autonomous Communities.
The average age of judges in Spain is 52.3 years, with women being on average younger at 50.4 years, compared to men at 54.9 years. The average tenure as a judge is 21.2 years, with women averaging 19.5 years and men 23.4 years. The feminization of the profession becomes evident when analyzing age groups, with women being the majority in almost all groups under the age of 60, further highlighting the changing demographics of the judiciary.
While women continue to be underrepresented in collegiate bodies, they dominate in single-person courts, except for Mercantile Courts and Administrative Courts, where they represent a smaller percentage of the judges. In courts such as Social Courts, Penitentiary Surveillance Courts, Family Courts, Criminal Courts, Courts for Minors, and Violence Against Women Courts, women make up over 60% of the judges. However, in collegiate bodies such as the National Court, Regional Courts of Justice, and Provincial Courts, the representation of women ranges from 41.3% to 44%, with the Supreme Court having the lowest proportion of women at 21.1%, due to the effects of the law implemented in 2021.
Overall, women in Spain have made significant strides in the judicial profession, with a higher percentage of female judges compared to a decade ago. However, there is still work to be done to achieve equal representation in collegiate positions, especially at the highest levels of the judiciary. The increased presence of women in the judiciary is a positive development, reflecting a more diverse and inclusive legal system, but efforts must continue to ensure gender parity and equal opportunities for all in the legal profession.
