Reform of Spain’s Judicial Administration

The Organic Law 1/2025 of January 2, on measures to improve the efficiency of the Public Justice Service, introduces major structural changes in Spain’s Judicial Administration. One of its most significant reforms is the creation of the new Courts of Instance, transforming the current organizational model set out in the Organic Law of the Judiciary (LOPJ).

This reform establishes the Courts of Instance as the new fundamental judicial structure, replacing individual courts with collective courts composed of specialized sections. Each section will correspond to the current jurisdictions — such as Civil, Criminal, Commercial, or Administrative — of the courts being transformed.

Key Point:

According to the First Transitional Provision of the Law, current courts will become sections of the corresponding Court of Instance.

The reform also redefines the role of Judicial Offices, which will now be structured into common services to support the Courts of Instance. This means there will no longer be independent courts with separate administrative systems — instead, a single court will operate with the support of a single organizational structure, the Judicial Office.

Additionally, Peace Courts will evolve into Municipal Justice Offices, modern administrative structures built upon the existing local court secretariats.

Effective Date:

These amendments to the LOPJ will come into force on January 23, 2025. However, transitional provisions in the Law will govern how current courts are progressively transformed and how the new Courts of Instance are established.

Another Key Point:

Once the Courts of Instance are fully constituted and implemented, all references in Spanish laws to traditional courts — such as the Courts of First Instance, Commercial Courts, Criminal Courts, Juvenile Courts, Labour Courts, or Administrative Courts — will be understood as referring to the corresponding sections within the new Courts of Instance, as defined in this reform. The same rule will apply to Central Courts, which will become part of the new Central Court of Instance.