Spain — Which Court Keeps the Case Docket?

 

???? CRIMINAL CASES

✅ Primary Record Holder (Case Docket)

English: Investigating Court
Spanish: Juzgado de Instrucción

• Opens the criminal case

• Assigns the case number (número de procedimiento)

• Maintains the original expediente

• Holds:

  • Charges

  • Investigation records

  • Case history

  • Final disposition (linked)

???? Even if the trial occurs elsewhere, the original docket remains here.

---

???? Where the Trial Happens (But Not the Master Docket)

???? These courts issue judgments, but the master case file stays with the Juzgado de Instrucción.

---

⚠️ Appeals Courts

• Audiencia Provincial (on appeal)

• Tribunal Superior de Justicia

• Tribunal Supremo

???? Appeals courts do not hold the original docket — they hold appeal records only.

---

???? CIVIL CASES

✅ Primary Record Holder (Case Docket)

English: Court of First Instance
Spanish: Juzgado de Primera Instancia

• Opens the civil case

• Assigns the docket number

• Maintains the official expediente

• Holds:

  • Claims and defenses

  • Evidence

  • Judgments

  • Enforcement records

???? All appeals trace back to this court.

---

⚠️ Civil Appeals Courts

• Audiencia Provincial

• Tribunal Superior de Justicia

• Tribunal Supremo

???? These courts keep appeal files, not the master docket.

---

???? SPECIAL CASE — NATIONAL COURT

National Court

Spanish: Audiencia Nacional

• Acts as both investigating and trial court for:

  • Terrorism

  • Major organized crime

  • High-level financial crimes

• Keeps the master docket itself

???? This is the only major exception.

---

???? ONE-LINE OPERATIONAL RULE (USE THIS)

In Spain, the official case docket is kept by the court of first instance that opened the case — not by appellate or supreme courts.

---

✔️ Screening & Compliance Implications

• Searching only appellate courts = ❌ incomplete

• Police certificates ≠ court docket

• You must identify:

  • Correct Juzgado de Instrucción (criminal)

  • Correct Juzgado de Primera Instancia (civil)

• Appeals do not replace first-instance searches