Àngel García Ortiz
Fiscal General del Estado
Paseo de la Castellana 17
28010 Madrid
SPAIN
Berlin, Brussels, Haarlem, London, Milano, Paris, New York, Zurich,
November 14, 2024
To the Respected Authorities, Her Excellency,
We, the undersigned lawyers, are reaching out to convey our concern regarding the recent legal proceedings and serious allegations brought against Mr. Gonzalo Boye, a prominent lawyer and dedicated human rights advocate. These charges, which could potentially result in a prison sentence of almost ten years and lengthy disbarment, are troubling given Mr. Boye’s established reputation and longstanding commitment to the law.
Our organization, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, has collaborated with Mr. Boye on numerous cases over the years, specifically in areas addressing human rights and justice. Mr. Boye is a criminal lawyer, who has been involved in several high-profile judicial proceedings and has faced considerable pressure for representing defendants in politically motivated and sensitive cases. He has consistently demonstrated a commitment to upholding the rule of law and fundamental rights, and his contributions have been recognized by colleagues and clients alike. Our relationship has provided us with insights into Mr. Boye’s dedication to legal ethics and professional standards.
We are particularly concerned that the charges against Mr. Boye may be perceived as an extension of the pressures he has faced since his involvement indefending Catalan clients following the 2017 referendum. This involvement appears to have led to increased scrutiny, which has impacted his professional activities and raised questions about his ability to practice without interference. We submit that Mr. Boye should not suffer, or be threatened with, sanctions for any action taken with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics, nor should be identified with his clients. In light of these prior circumstances, we hope that these current charges will be thoroughly and transparently examined.
Additionally, we wish to highlight that we have already shared a report with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers back in 2019 and will update our communication to the UN in the light of the ongoing procedure. The by then communication reflected our apprehension regarding the potential impact of these proceedings on the independence and impartiality required in the legal profession. Our intention is to ensure that this matter receives the attention it merits from a global perspective committed to judicial integrity.
It is our sincere hope that this case will be handled with utmost fairness, impartiality, and respect for Mr. Boye’s rights as a lawyer. We respectfully urge that every effort be made to conduct a thorough review of the evidence, allowing for a balanced and just resolution that upholds the principles of justice and the rule of law.
We will observe the trial carefully in several occasions and might come back to you in another moment.
Thank you for your attention to these concerns.
Sincerely,
Wolfgang Kaleck, Lawyer and General Secretary of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights e.V., Berlin, Germany
Marcel Bossonet, Lawyer, Zurich, Switzerland
William Bourdon, Lawyer, Paris, France
Hans Gaasbeek, Lawyer, Foundation Day of the Endangered Lawyer, Haarlem, The Netherlands
Symone Gaasbeek Wielinga, Lawyer, Dutch League of Human Rights, Haarlem, The Netherlands
Manon Libert, Lawyer, Brussels, Belgium
Christophe Marchand, Lawyer, Brussels, Belgium
Chantal Meloni, Lawyer and Criminal Law Professor at the University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Jennifer Robinson, Lawyer, Doughty Chambers, London, UK
Prof. Dr. h.c. Wolfgang Schomburg, Lawyer and former Judge at the UN International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the UN International Tribunal for Rwanda, Berlin, Germany
Sören Schomburg, Lawyer, Berlin, Germany
Peer Stolle, Lawyer and President of the Republican Laywers Association of Germany, Berlin, Germany
Ben Wizner, Lawyer, ACLU, New York, USA
