Justice of the Peace vacancies announced in Valdefresno and Villafranca del Bierzo

The High Court of Justice of Castilla y León has announced vacancies for a substitute justice of the peace in Valdefresno and a titular justice of the peace in Villafranca del Bierzo, which will be filled through the direct appointment process. The edict is signed by the Government Secretariat of the high court and published in the Official Gazette of the Province of León number 189, corresponding to Friday, October 2, 2026, with the official reference BOP-LE-2026-189027. Applicants have fifteen days from the date of publication to submit their application.

The announcement is issued in compliance with Article 101.4 of the Organic Law of the Judiciary and Article 11.1 of the Justice of the Peace Regulations 3/1995, of June 7, and responds to the agreement adopted by the court’s Governing Chamber in its session on September 28, 2026. The edict occupies page 77 of the gazette, within the Administration of Justice section, and appears signed in Burgos on September 28, 2026, by the Government Secretary, María Teresa de Benito Martínez.

Direct appointment is one of the provided methods for filling these positions, alongside the ordinary procedure in which the City Council Plenary chooses the candidates and the Governing Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Castilla y León proceeds with their appointment, pursuant to Articles 101 and 102 of the Organic Law of the Judiciary and Articles 4 and 5.1 of Regulation 3/1995.

The two announced positions

The edict details the affected municipalities in the province of León and the position that remains vacant in each:

• Valdefresno: substitute justice of the peace.
• Villafranca del Bierzo: titular justice of the peace.

Requirements and submission of applications

Applications to fill each vacancy must meet the following formal conditions:

• Include a declaration by the interested party stating that they are not subject to any cause of incompatibility or incapacity.
• Attach a photocopy of the D.N.I. (National ID) for identification.
• Be sent directly to the High Court of Justice of Castilla y León, Government Secretariat, located at Paseo de la Audiencia 10, 09071 Burgos.
• Be submitted within fifteen days following the publication of the edict.

The document can be verified through the electronic judicial headquarters, using the secure verification code appearing in the announcement itself.

Background: approximately thirty municipalities in September

The call for applications comes two weeks after a similar announcement from the same body. The Official Gazette of the Province of León number 178, dated September 17, 2026, published an edict from the Government Secretariat, with reference BOP-LE-2026-178015, which opened the same direct appointment process for the position of substitute justice of the peace in 38 Leonese municipalities, including Acebedo, Alija del Infantado, Cacabelos, Gradefes, Molinaseca, Palacios del Sil, Valverde de la Virgen, and Villamañán. That edict was signed in Burgos on September 15, 2026.

In parallel, several city councils are publishing their own vacancy announcements through the ordinary procedure. This is the case of the City Council of Santa Colomba de Curueño, whose announcement, with reference BOP-LE-2026-178005, opened a period of fifteen business days for interested parties to submit their application to the Mayor’s Office, with the requirements of being Spanish, of legal age, residing in the municipality, and not being subject to causes of incapacity or incompatibility.

Impact for the affected municipalities

The filling of these two positions affects the daily operation of local justice in Valdefresno and Villafranca del Bierzo, where the justice of the peace assumes competencies for conciliation, civil registry, and judicial assistance. The fifteen-day period is the only window for residents who meet the legal conditions to submit their candidacy to the Government Secretariat of the High Court of Justice of Castilla y León.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of León, no. 189, Friday, October 2, 2026, Administration of Justice, p. 77 (official reference: BOP-LE-2026-189027).