The court-appointed lawyer assigned to the Marquês case has submitted a request to withdraw from representation to the Lisbon Regional Council of the Bar Association.
Request for withdrawal: Sócrates is left without a court-appointed lawyer again
Tuesday, 10 March 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
The Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados) is the professional body that regulates lawyers in Portugal, manages ethics and professional registration, and organises legal aid and court-appointed defence. The association can set up permanent teams of court-appointed lawyers if it judges the current system inadequate, which is why the Ministry of Justice said it would not object to such a move.
