Marta Silva Explained

Marta Silva de Lapuerta (born 15 February 1969)^[1] is a Spanish jurist. A member of the State Lawyers Corps since 1996, she was the Solicitor General of Spain from 2012 to 2016, the first woman to hold the office. She also served on the boards of Real Madrid CF and Sacyr.

Biography

Silva was born in Madrid. Her father Federico Silva Muñoz (1923–1997) was also a member of the State Lawyers Corps, and the Minister of Public Works from 1965 to 1970 during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. She was the youngest of nine children, including Rosario Silva de Lapuerta (born 1954), who in 1978 became the first woman member of the State Lawyers Corps,^[1] and later served on the European Court of Justice. On her maternal side, her uncle Álvaro Lapuerta (1927–2018) was another member of the same body, and the treasurer of the People's Party (PP) from 1993 to 2008; her grandfather (1897–1968) was also a state lawyer.^[2]

Silva graduated with a law degree from the Universidad CEU San Pablo in Madrid.^[3] She was admitted to the State Lawyers Corps in 1996.^[4] She was on the board of directors at Real Madrid CF during the first presidency of Florentino Pérez (2000–2006), serving as secretary general. Also on the board was Luis del Rivero, president of the construction company Sacyr, who appointed her onto its board.^[4]

In January 2012, the Minister of Justice, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, appointed Silva as Solicitor General of Spain.^[5] She was the first woman to hold the office.^[6] In November 2015, she filed the state's appeal against a motion passed by the Parliament of Catalonia to begin the process of independence.^[7] She was replaced by Eugenio López Álvarez in November 2016.^[2]

Silva received the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Raymond of Peñafort, a state award for services to law and justice, in 2013.^[8]

Notes and References

1. News: El lunes toman posesión la nueva Abogada General del Estado y otros tres altos cargos de Justicia. On Monday the new State Solicitor General and three other holders of high positions in the Ministry of Justice will take office. 11 March 2023 . . 13 January 2012 . Spanish.
2. News: Pérez . Manuel . Silva deja la abogacía del Estado. Silva no longer Solicitor General. 11 March 2023 . . 6 December 2016 . Spanish.
3. News: La jefa de los abogados que defienden al Estado. The leader of the lawyers who defend the State . 11 March 2023 . . 11 November 2015 . Spanish.
4. News: Maroto . Joaquín . Primera y única mujer en la Junta de Florentino Pérez. The first and only woman on Florentino Pérez's board . 11 March 2023 . . 30 March 2017 . Spanish.
5. News: Gallardón "ficha" a la hija de Federico Muñoz como abogada general del Estado. Gallardón "signs" Federico Muñoz's daughter as State Solicitor General . 11 March 2023 . La Opinión de Zamora . 12 January 2012 . Spanish.
6. News: Álvarez . Javier . Una jueza española, nueva vicepresidenta del Tribunal de Justicia de la UE. Spanish judge is new vice president of the EU Court of Justice. 11 March 2023 . . 9 October 2018 . Spanish.
7. News: Casqueiro . Javier . Government files appeal against Catalan independence motion . 11 March 2023 . . 11 November 2015.
8. Real Decreto 498/2013, de 21 de junio, por el que se concede la Gran Cruz de la Orden de San Raimundo de Peñafort, a los miembros de la Comisión Institucional para la elaboración de una propuesta de texto articulado de Ley Orgánica del Poder Judicial y Ley de Demarcación y de Planta Judicial.. Royal Decree 498/2013, of 21 June, which grants the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Raymond of Peñafort, to the members of the Institutional Commission for the preparation of a proposal for an articulated text of the Organic Law of the Judiciary and Law of Demarcation and Judicial Plant. . . 24 June 2013 . 150 . 47357 . 11 March 2023 . Spanish.