Sócrates case: Changing lawyers is “more common than people think”, says Judges' Union Association

The withdrawal of court-appointed lawyers and the replacement of legal counsel is not unique to former Prime Minister José Sócrates, who is facing trial for 22 crimes. Nuno Matos, president of the Portuguese Judges' Union Association (ASJP), notes that while it does not happen every day, it is more common than imagined, though the high-profile nature of this case makes it appear more significant. Following the resignation of Sócrates' fourth court-appointed lawyer, the court has scheduled the playback of recorded testimonies for the next 20 sessions to allow future counsel time to prepare without halting the trial.