Spanish lawyers are gaining visibility on television programs while defending high-profile court cases, sparking debate on benefits and risks. Some defend this exposure as legitimate for informing the public, while others criticize it for trivializing cases and endangering victims. Experts note the fusion of judicial events and politics.
Hours after former National Police deputy operational director José Ángel González and the inspector who accused him of sexual assault testified before the judge, her lawyer Jorge Piedrafita appeared on a TV set discussing case details, including an audio on the alleged violation. This illustrates a growing phenomenon: lawyers on talk shows dissecting high-profile cases, turning clients into public figures. Veteran criminal lawyer Marcos García Montes, who has handled cases like Filesa or Daniel Sancho's defense, states: “There are newsworthy facts and the media have the right to obtain information and the people to receive it”./n/nAlfredo Arrien, representing Elisa Mouliaá and Lesly Ochoa, attributes this trend to the politicization of incidents and judicialization of politics, as in the alleged sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl in Hortaleza, exploited by Vox. Piedrafita speaks to media to protect his client's anonymity. Juan Gonzalo Ospina, lawyer for Edwin Arrieta's family—murdered by Daniel Sancho—says: “If you're not there, you don't exist,” and uses social media for visibility./n/nCourt critics view them as self-managers seeking clients or program payments, though those mentioned deny it. In contrast, José Aníbal Álvarez, defender of José Luis Ábalos in the Koldo case, prefers: “What I have to say, I say in a courtroom.” Marta Giménez-Cassina, for Luis Bárcenas, spoke only once. Antonio José García Cabrera, for José Manuel Villarejo, notes: “The lawyer should not be the media star; it's the case that is.”/n/nRisks include unpredictable public opinion and revictimization, but some see benefits like increased judicial scrutiny. Judges consulted say media exposure does not affect decisions, prioritizing evidence and the lawyer's legal skill.
