MADRID, Spain - Thousands of people have taken to the Spanish capital's streets in support of a judge who won global fame for taking on international human rights cases, but has now been barred from the bench for ordering jailhouse wiretaps.
Baltasar Garzon, 56 years old, was convicted Feb. 9 by the Supreme Court of ordering the wiretaps, marking a spectacular fall from grace for the nation's most prominent jurist.
The case was just one of three against Garzon, who is still awaiting verdict in another trial on charges of initiating a probe in 2008 of right-wing atrocities committed during and after the Spanish civil war of 1936-1939, even though the crimes were covered by a 1977 amnesty.
Around 10,000 people attended the march in Madrid Sunday, many carrying banners calling for justice for Carzon.
