Carmen Lamela Díaz is a Spanish judge who has served on the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court since 2018. She became widely known during major judicial proceedings linked to Catalan politics, particularly after ordering pre-trial detention in 2017 of Oriol Junqueras and other figures known as “the Jordis”.
Professional career
Carmen Lamela Díaz was born in 1958. Her career has been developed within the Spanish judiciary, with posts in investigative courts and later in the higher courts of the state.
From 2014 to 2018, she served as judge of Central Investigating Court No. 3 of the National Court. In that role, she was responsible for instructing criminal investigations within the jurisdiction of the Audiencia Nacional, Spain’s central court for cases involving, among other matters, terrorism, organised crime, and offences with national scope.
In 2017, while at the National Court, Lamela ordered the pre-trial detention of Oriol Junqueras, then vice-president of the Government of Catalonia, and of the civic leaders known as the Jordis: Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart. These decisions were taken in the context of the judicial proceedings arising from the Catalan independence process.
In 2018, she was appointed judge of the Supreme Court (Criminal Chamber), where she continues to serve. The Criminal Chamber is responsible for hearing criminal matters assigned to the highest court, including certain cases involving senior public officials and appeals in criminal cases.
Public relevance and open cases
Carmen Lamela Díaz appears in public debate mainly because of her role in the judicial response to the Catalan independence process, especially since 2017, when she adopted measures in one of the most closely watched criminal proceedings in contemporary Spanish politics.
Her name became particularly prominent after she ordered pre-trial detention for Oriol Junqueras and the civic leaders Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart in proceedings handled by Central Investigating Court No. 3 of the National Court. These decisions were part of a criminal case linked to events surrounding the unilateral independence drive in Catalonia. At the time, the individuals affected were under investigation; any criminal responsibility had to be determined through the courts, in line with the presumption of innocence.
As of the information provided, there are no open judicial proceedings against Carmen Lamela Díaz that can be stated here on a verified basis. No final conviction relating to her has been provided in the available data, so none is stated.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Carmen Lamela Díaz? She is a Spanish judge, born in 1958, who has served on the Supreme Court’s Criminal Chamber since 2018 and previously worked at the National Court.
Why is she well known in Spain? She became publicly prominent during the Catalan independence judicial cases, especially after ordering the pre-trial detention of Oriol Junqueras, Jordi Sànchez and Jordi Cuixart in 2017.
What court did Carmen Lamela work in before the Supreme Court? Before joining the Supreme Court, she was judge of Central Investigating Court No. 3 of the National Court from 2014 to 2018.
Did Carmen Lamela sentence Oriol Junqueras or the Jordis? The information provided only confirms that she ordered their pre-trial detention in 2017. It does not state that she issued a final sentence in their cases.
Is Carmen Lamela currently serving as a judge? Yes. She is listed as a judge of the Supreme Court (Criminal Chamber) and is serving in that position presently.