The Spanish Cross of Honour for Leo Netten, President of the UIHJ

 

This award was presented by the Minister of Justice of Spain at the Ministry of Justice in Madrid. The ceremony was attended by Juan Carlos Estevez Fernandez Novoa, President of the Council of Procuradores of Spain, several members of his board, the Deputy Secretary of State for Justice of Spain, several judicial officers, current and former members of the board and of the secretariat of the UIHJ, Jacques Isnard, Honorary President of the UIHJ, José Carlos Resende, president of the National Chamber of Solicitadores of Portugal, and relatives as well as Mireille Netten, spouse of the recipient.

In his presentation speech, Juan Carlos Estevez Fernandez Novoa thanked the Minister of Justice of his presence for the event "very important to all judicial officers and Procuradores." Referring to the crisis, President Estevez estimated that it calls for changes and a more modern and European justice. The president of the Spanish Procuradores thanked Leo Netten and, through him, the UIHJ for his constant help and friendship. He highlighted the bonds of companionship between the representatives of the General Council of Procuradores and the UIHJ and the exceptional career of Leo Netten since entering the UIHJ, more than twenty years ago.

The justice minister, meanwhile, said that this award represents a double recognition: the work done by the President of the UIHJ and his career traced by Juan Carlos Estevez. The Minister recalled that the Cross of Honour of the Order of San Raimundo de Penafort is intended to award a prize to those who have contributed through their work and daily activities to improve the world of law and justice. "Leo Netten highlighted a profession of judicial officer at the service of justice and society, he said. Countries like Moldova, Zambia, Dubai, or Albania are members of the UIHJ, an organization that has transformed into a consultative reference for all countries of the world, to promote all kinds of legal reforms". Alberto Ruiz Gallardon Jimenez recalled that the UIHJ is a founding member of the European Law Institute, participates in the Justice Forum of the World Bank, is a member of UNCITRAL, and is associated with the work of the European Commission on Efficiency of Justice of the Council of Europe." Leo Netten is a friend of Spain. He proved it repeatedly. He has always been involved and invested in the development of Spanish legal associations. This award is a tribute to the profession of judicial officer." Alberto Ruiz Gallardon Jimenez stressed that society and justice are in a phase of transformation. "Both Mr Netten Mr Estevez helped the transformation of society," he acknowledged.
 
After the presentation of the decoration, the president of the UIHJ thanked the Minister of Justice and the Spanish State for the distinction that has been made. He said how honoured he felt and, through him, all the judicial officers of the world. He added that for him, this distinction is a sign of recognition of the work done by the UIHJ and the unbreakable bonds with the profession of Procurador for thirty years now. Tracing the history of this special relationship, comparing it to a long courtship, Leo Netten recalled that the links have been uninterrupted since 1996.

Since 2010, the function of Procurador includes the service of documents, which has enabled the profession to become a full member of the UIHJ. Tomorrow the Procuradores will be responsible for carrying out the enforcement of court decisions. While emphasizing the involvement of the General Council of Procuradores within the UIHJ, President Netten recalled that Spain is the country of the UIHJ which includes - by far - the most liberal professionals and that the next International Congress of judicial officers is to be held in Madrid in 2015.
Finally, the president of the UIHJ once again thanked the Ministry of Justice of Spain, President Estevez and the General Council of Spanish Procuradores to have initiated this prestigious ceremony.