The first Spanish female judges and public prosecutors (1931-1939): The pioneering female legal experts

Abstract

The II Spanish Republic (1931-1939) was built on the more progressive political and social rights of the democratic liberalism of the time. However, women were still not able to easily practice in all legal posts. In 1931, they were granted the right to be notaries and property registrars. But in 1934, they were denied the right to be judges and public prosecutors. During the Civil War, the fi rst female judges, magistrates and public prosecutors were nominated in small numbers. However, this equality with men would end if the backers of the 1936 coup d’etat won the war. And this is what happened. The dictatorship of General Franco (1939-1975) put women under the control of men. Once again, women lived as social and legal inferiors. The political and civil rights gained during the Republic were left far behind.