Human rights judge Baltasar Garzon went on trial today over his divisive attempt to investigate 114,000 disappearances during Spain's Civil War and the subsequent right-wing dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.
About 200 people, including relatives of Franco's victims and fellow Spanish judges, gathered outside the Supreme Court to protest against the trial, which they say is an attempt to deny justice for "crimes against humanity".
International observers from human rights groups and legal associations were in the court for the first time in Spain to monitor proceedings.
Mr Garzon sat beside his lawyer, wearing his official robes.
The charges against the magistrate were brought by right-wing organisations Clean Hands and Liberty and Identity, who allege Mr Garzon violated a 1977 amnesty law by investigating the Franco era, which stretched from 1939 to 1975.
Mr Garzon, 56, was hugely admired in Spain for his investigations of violent Basque separatists ETA, and for his human rights probes in South America, but he alienated many when he revisited Francoism, a dark period of Spanish history.
He faces three trials - all brought by private parties and not by the state prosecutor - linked to his investigations into human rights abuses, corruption and other offences. One case, involving accusations of illegally taping defendants and their lawyers, was heard last week. The verdict is pending. .
If convicted at any of the trials, he could be banned from serving as a judge for up to 20 years.
With pre-trial questions scheduled for today and tomorrow, followed by a court recess, Mr Garzon will not testify until 31 January.
