Standby lawyers for major trials
The Bar Association and the Superior Council of the Judiciary are moving ahead with a 'task force' to prevent trials from dragging out. A pool of court-appointed defence lawyers will include 2 to 3 people per case.
Court rejects Sócrates' request to annul trial sessions in which a court‑appointed lawyer was present
A court has refused Sócrates' petition to declare void the trial hearings that took place while a court‑appointed (duty) lawyer was present, dismissing the claim that the lawyer's presence invalidated those sessions.
José Sócrates has every right to be represented by whoever he sees fit
Lawyer Pedro Barosa explains how the remainder of José Sócrates's trial will unfold following the resignation of lawyer José Preto.
José Preto, in remarks to Antena 1, says the judge should give the defence reasonable time
Lawyer José Preto, who on Tuesday resigned from the defence of José Sócrates in the Operação Marquês case, insists it makes no sense to appoint a court‑appointed lawyer to replace him.
The proceedings will not stop because the magistrate has no lawyers. That cannot happen
João Massano, president of the Bar Association, explains why the trial of José Sócrates is not at risk of stopping, even after the resignation of lawyer José Preto.
Operation Marquis. Luís Rosa: "The court's decision is lawful"
Lawyer José Preto withdrew from Sócrates's defence because the judge did not suspend the proceedings despite his illness. Luís Rosa, lead writer at Observador, says the court's decision was lawful.
2pm — José Sócrates is once again without a lawyer
At 2pm, José Sócrates is again without legal representation.
Sócrates' trial resumes after two months' suspension but without his lawyer
The former prime minister's lawyer, José Preto, was hospitalised for 12 days and is at home, saying he has not fully recovered.
Operation Marquês: "This is just schemes, that's it," said the Caixa employee about the money transfers
The trial resumed after a two-month pause, with José Sócrates represented by court-appointed defence counsel because his lawyer was ill.
Operation Marquês: Court of Appeal rules that related minor case must be tried separately
The Lisbon Court of Appeal has ruled that the separate case linked to Operation Marquês, in which José Sócrates and Carlos Santos Silva are defendants, should not be joined to the main trial already underway and must be tried separately.
Court of Appeal: Marquês's secondary case should be tried separately
Appellate judge Rui Teixeira sided with judge Susana Seca, allowing the Marquês's secondary case to be tried separately. However, he ignored an appeal from the Public Prosecutor's Office (Ministério Público), which could lead to an about-turn.
Repeat child sex offender remanded in custody for abusing his cousin
The Investigating Criminal Judge in Porto ordered the most serious pre-trial measure after he assaulted a minor relative in an abandoned house.
Justice. Maybe not even Sócrates would remember this
An analytical update on the protracted Sócrates trial, framed as a slow-motion courtroom drama punctuated by unexpected or seemingly choreographed incidents that lend a surreal air to proceedings. Journalist Luís Rosa outlines how procedural delays, political overtones and episodic disruptions have complicated the legal narrative, raising broader questions about the judiciary’s capacity to deliver timely justice and the need for legal and policy reform to protect public trust. The piece examines implications for corruption cases and systemic reform in Portugal’s judicial and political spheres.
Operation Marquês: Should we split up mega-cases?
João Massano, president of the Portuguese Bar Association, says Operation Marquês calls into question the concept of 'mega-cases', which he describes as 'small, unmanageable monsters' that drag on for years.
12:00 — Operation Marquis: Trial restart postponed
The restart of the trial, scheduled for today, has been postponed after the court ordered the appointment of a new court‑appointed defence lawyer. Also, María Corina Machado thanks Trump for the capture of Maduro.
Operation Marquis: Court summons court-appointed lawyer to defend Sócrates
Inês Louro was called by the court to replace José Preto, who is hospitalised with pneumonia. The court-appointed lawyer is expected to ask for time to review the case file.
Sócrates: Judge calls court‑appointed lawyer, but she refuses because she is from Chega
Court‑appointed lawyer Inês Louro entered the room to represent the former prime minister, since lawyer José Preto is hospitalised at Hospital de Santa Maria, but she refused to take on the defence.
The Operation Marquês trial is set to resume this Tuesday with a new lawyer representing Sócrates
The new lawyer sought five and a half months to familiarise himself with the case, but on 26 November 2025 the request was denied by the Lisbon Central Criminal Court.
New lawyer for Sócrates notified the court he was ill and did not appoint a substitute
The trial has been on hold for nearly two months. The resumption of proceedings is scheduled for this Tuesday, but the judge has not yet decided how to proceed given José Preto's illness.
The justice system is in a deplorable state
Augusto Santos Silva laments that no concrete steps have been taken towards judicial reform. The former minister asks the Attorney General to clarify what is happening at the Public Prosecutor's Office.
50+ manifesto laments lack of reform in the justice system
In a new manifesto, the group criticises the “manifestly abusive and illegal use of preliminary investigations into anonymous allegations” and the disclosure of past events about candidates.
What to expect from the justice system in 2026 and an assessment of 2025
Luís Rosa, Paulo Saragoça da Matta and CNN Portugal's Society editor Henrique Machado take stock of the year drawing to a close and anticipate what may come in 2026.
José Sócrates continues to be the 'star' in a year of high-profile trials
Former prime minister José Sócrates remains the central figure in a year marked by trials that have drawn intense media attention.
