The Association of Legal Communicators and Informers (ACIJUR) has announced the winners of the XI Edition of the Puñetas Awards, an initiative that aims to recognise, in various categories, the work of individuals, institutions, or groups for their contribution to the improvement of justice and the rule of law in all its aspects, and especially in the dissemination of legal information in society.
In this edition, the “Puñetas de Oro” Award was given to Judge Pascual Sala Sánchez, former President of the Constitutional Court, the Council of the Judiciary, the Supreme Court, and the Court of Auditors, for a long and brilliant career of professional and institutional prestige and for having demonstrated in his day that it is possible to renew the constitutional bodies even if the parties are incapable of reaching an agreement.
The “Puñetas de Plata” Prize was awarded to Manuel García Castellón, examining magistrate of the Audiencia Nacional, for his professional and impartial handling of trials of enormous political and economic importance, regardless of the ideology or economic power of those under investigation.
The “Puñetas de Bronce” award went to the association Women in a Legal World, for its intense fight to promote equality and female talent in the legal profession.
In the “Puñetas Periféricas” category, the prize was awarded to the colectivo jurídico de abogados, registrars, notaries, and solicitors of the island of La Palma, for their commitment to offering all the citizens of the island the quickest advice and the best legal defence in the catastrophe and emergency situation they have experienced and continue to experience.
Finally, with a critical and denouncing intention, each year ACIJUR awards the “Vete a Hacer Puñetas” Award to those persons, groups, institutions, or current events that have contributed negatively to the improvement of the Rule of Law, to the defence of rights and freedoms, especially freedom of information or have hindered the work of journalists. In this edition, the prize has been awarded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to the destruction and crimes against humanity committed in that territory against innocent civilians, and to the unjustifiable aggression against peace, human rights and the rights of free nations, and the values of freedom, legality, justice, and democracy.
The ceremony of the Puñetas Awards will take place on 7 June 2022, at the French Institute in Madrid.
