# Ministry of Justice (Spain)

The Ministry of Justice (MJUS) was the department of the Government of Spain responsible for preparing and carrying out the government policy in order to bring the legal system off, specially in criminal, civil, commercial and procedural law affairs, supporting the Administration of Justice and the legal and international cooperation.
Likewise, it was responsible for processing the documents relative to grace right, titles of nobility and Grandees which resolution is given by the King and is carried out by the Council of Ministers, giving legal attendance to the State administrations and it is the communication channel of the Government with the Administration of Justice, with the General Council of the Judiciary and with the Prosecution Ministry, through the Attorney General, as well as with the governing bodies of the autonomous communities with judicial responsibilities, the Spanish Data Protection Agency and the associations of legal experts.
The MJUS was headed by the Minister of Justice, who is appointed by the King of Spain at request of the Prime Minister, after hearing the Council of Ministers. The Minister is assisted by three main officials, the Secretary of State for Justice, the Under Secretary of Justice and the Secretary-General for Innovation and Quality of the Public Justice Service. The Solicitor General depends from the Minister. The present last minister of justice under this ministry was Pilar Llop, who served from 2021 to 2023.
The ministry had its headquarters in the Palace of the Marchioness of Sonora, Madrid.

## History
### Origin

The administration of justice was a real prerogative and would continue being it until the 19th century, with the firsts constitutions. However, the monarchs already delegate its judicial powers on civil servants in charge of administering justice but the first time that a kind-of government department was created for judicial affairs was in 1705. That year, King Philip V split the Secretariat of the Universal Dispatch into two secretariats, one for War and Treasury and other «for everything else», which primarily included justice and religion affairs.

### The beginnings

However, the true germ of the ministry is found in the Royal Decree of 30 November 1714, which, similar to the French model, divided matters by subject, creating four Secretariats of the Dispatch, among which was the Secretariat of State and of the Dispatch of Ecclesiastical Affairs, Justice and Jurisdiction, in charge of religious affairs, maintenance of royalties from the Crown, the regime of universities, and justice and jurisdiction of Councils and courts, especially in appointments. This secretariat was assumed by Manuel Vadillo Velasco who previously assumed the «Secretariat of the Dispatch for everything else».
This Secretariat of State and of the Dispatch of Ecclesiastical Affairs, Justice and Jurisdiction is renamed Secretariat of the Dispatch of Justice, Political Government and Treasury of Spain and the Indies on 2 April 1717, since it assumes the powers of the Treasury after the General Supervision had been eliminated and after being merged most of the Secretariats of the Dispatch, preserving just three of them. However, this situation will last a short time because in December 1720 the Treasury business regained autonomy, splitting from the Ministry of Justice.

### Grace and Justice

The great reforms carried out by Ferdinand VI in 1754-1755 established the definitive classification of the Secretariats of the Dispatch and their powers. Thus, between 15 May 1754 and 14 May 1755, by a series of Royal Decrees, the Secretariats of the Dispatch become five (the Treasury one is re-created), and they are endowed with a permanent organization. In the case of the Secretariat of Ecclesiastical Affairs, Justice and Jurisdiction, by the Decree of 16 August 1754, it changes its name to «Secretariat of State and of the Dispatch of Grace and Justice». The subsequent reform of the year 1787 gives rise to a greater division of the Secretariats, as a solution to the accumulation of affairs and businesses from the Indies.
As for the functions of this Secretariat of the Dispatch of Grace and Justice, it corresponded to it the matters previously dealt with by the Chamber of Castile and the Royal Council, basically those relating to royal patronage, ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and the organization and operation of the Courts of Justice. Thus, it was attributed to this Secretariat everything to the appointments of archbishops, bishops, ecclesiastical dignities, perks, trades and chaplaincies; the government of courts and chancery, the appointment of its presidents, governors and ministers, and the resources of justice; the provision of the corregimientos not destined to war and property; the conservation of royalties of the Crown, as well as the dispatch of what is convenient to the royal houses and the provision of their jobs and the care of the observance of laws and pragmatics.
In 1787, the pre-existing Secretariat of the Navy and the Indies is divided into three, with the names of: Navy, Grace and Justice of the Indies, and War, Treasury, Commerce and Navigation of the Indies, bringing the judicial affairs of the Indies to this moment assumed by the Indies Secretariat to a new the Secretariat of Grace and Justice of the Indies. However, this reform did not end the problems it had tried to remedy, so by Royal Decree of 25 April 1790, the classic division into five Secretaries of State and of the Dispatch was re-established: «State», «War», «Navy», «Treasury» and «Grace and Justice», each of which assumed the corresponding matters to the Indies. This division of the different branches of the Administration will be maintained until the Cortes of Cádiz, which will introduce other reforms.

### The Ministry

In 1812, the name «Secretariat of the Dispatch of Grace and Justice» was changed to «Ministry of Grace and Justice». But in fact, already the Statute of Bayonne of 1808 and the Constitution of 1837 used the term «minister» to refer to the secretaries of the Dispatch, since both terms were used as synonyms until the Royal Decree of 20 September 1851 changed the name of the Secretariat of State and of the Dispatch of Public Works to Ministry of Development, making official the denomination of «ministries» for the former Secretariats of the Dispatch and, consequently, it is definitively called Ministry of Grace and Justice.
Since then, the Ministry of Justice has hardly changed (except for those of internal organization) and the most significant changes were in the Second Republic, specifically on 14 April 1931, when it was renamed «Ministry of Justice» and the period from 25 September 1935 to 19 February 1936, in which the name of the department was «Ministry of Labor, Health and Justice».
Already in democracy, the most significant change was between May 1994 and May 1996, when it merged with the Ministry of the Interior, giving rise to the Ministry of Justice and the Interior.
In 2020, the department lost the powers over the fundamental right of freedom of worship and the matters related with the Historical Memory Act.
In November 2023, the Ministry was disestablished and it was merged with the Ministry of the Presidency. It was the second time in three centuries that the Ministry of Justice was abolished after its merger with the Ministry of the Interior from 1994 to 1996.

## Organization chart

The Ministry of Justice was organised in the following managerial bodies:
* The Secretariat of State for Justice.
** The General Secretariat for Innovation and Quality of the Public Justice Service.
*** The Directorate-General for the Public Justice Service.
*** The Directorate-General for the Digital Transformation of the Administration of Justice.
*** The Directorate-General for Legal Security and Certification.
*** The Deputy Directorate-General for Innovation and Quality of the Fiscal and Judicial Office.
** The Directorate-General for International Legal Cooperation and Human Rights.
* The Undersecretary of Justice.
** The Technical General Secretariat.
** The Budget Office.
** The Deputy Directorate-General for Human Resources.
** The Deputy Directorate-General for Hiring and Economic Management.
** The Deputy Directorate-General for Building and Heritage.
** The Deputy Directorate-General for Administrative Information and General Inspection of Services.
** The Division for the Right of Grace and other Rights.
* The Office of the Solicitor General.
** The Directorate-General for Advisory Services.
** The Directorate-General for Litigation Services.
** The Deputy Directorate-General for Human and Material Resources.
** The Deputy Directorate-General for Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights.
** The Deputy Directorate-General for European Union and International Affairs.
** The Deputy Directorate-General for Internal Audit and Knowledge Management.
** The Technical Cabinet of the Solicitor General.
** The Offices of the Solicitor General at the Spanish regions and autonomous cities.

### Agencies

* The Center for Legal Studies.
* The General Mutual Benefit Society for Civil Servants of the Administration of Justice.

## First Notary of the Kingdom

First Notary of the Kingdom or Chief Notary of the Kingdom, in Spanish Notario Mayor del Reino is the title held by the Minister of Justice as the person in charge of giving faith of the big events of the country like taking oath of high-ranking officials of the Kingdom. Among its most important tasks is the record of the swearing and promises of the King or Queen, the Prime Minister, the Ministers and the Secretaries of State.
Likewise, the First Notary of the Kingdom also intervened in the civil acts of the Spanish royal family, raising the records of the births, marriages and deaths of their individuals, and authorizing their marital capitulations, powers, assignments and other provisions and contracts. Said protocols and other papers of the civil acts that concern the royal family are kept in the dependencies of the Directorate-General of Registries and Notaries.
The title is exercised ex officio, from its appointment until its cessation as Minister of Justice. This position does not confer any notarial authority nor does it have any relationship with the General Council of the Notariat (the nationwide organization who represents the notaries), whose highest authority is the President of the General Council.
In case of the absence of the minister himself and as public notary, the Director-General of the Registries and the Notary, who is the secretary of the First Notary's Office, acts as the Acting First Notary of the Kingdom.

## List of ministers of justice of Spain
### Reign of Joseph I (1808–1813)

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 7 July 1808 | 1 August 1808 | Sebastián Piñuela Alonso (1) |
| 5 September 1808 | 27 February 1812 | Manuel Romero (1) |
| 27 February 1812 | 27 June 1813 | Pablo Arribas(1) |

### Junta Suprema Central (1808–1812)

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 15 February 1808 | 6 February 1810 | Benito Ramón de la Hermida (3) |
| 6 February 1810 | 19 January 1811 | Nicolás María Sierra (3) |
| 19 January 1811 | 12 August 1811 | José Antonio Larrumbide Urquidizar (3) |
| 12 August 1811 | 23 June 1812 | Ignacio Pezuela (3) |
| 23 June 1812 | 10 February 1813 | Antonio Cano Ramírez de Arellano (3) |
| 10 February 1813 | 4 May 1814 | Manuel García Herreros (3) |

### Reign of Fernando VII (1814–1833)

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 4 May 1814 | 8 November 1814 | Pedro Macanaz (3) |
| 8 November 1814 | 27 January 1816 | Tomás Moyano (3) |
| 27 January 1816 | 29 February 1816 | Pedro Cevallos Guerra (3) |
| 29 February 1816 | 29 January 1817 | José García de León y Pizarro (3) |
| 29 January 1817 | 1 November 1819 | Juan Esteban Lozano de Torres (3) |
| 1 November 1819 | 9 March 1820 | Bernardo Mozo de Rosales (3) |
| 9 March 1820 | 8 April 1820 | José García de la Torre (3) |
| 8 April 1820 | 2 March 1821 | Manuel García Herreros (1) |
| 2 March 1821 | 28 February 1822 | Vicente Cano Manuel Ramírez de Arellano (1) |
| 28 February 1822 | 23 July 1822 | Nicolás María Garelli (1) |
| 23 July 1822 | 5 August 1822 | Damián de la Santa (1) |
| 5 August 1822 | 12 May 1823 | Felipe Benicio Navarro (1) |
| 12 May 1823 | 30 September 1823 | José María Calatrava (1) |
| 30 September 1823 | 2 December 1823 | José García de la Torre (3) |
| 2 December 1823 | 18 January 1824 | Narciso Heredia y Begines de los Ríos (3) |
| 18 January 1824 | 1 February 1832 | Francisco Tadeo Calomarde (3) |
| 1 February 1832 | 14 December 1832 | José Cafranga Costilla (3) |
| 14 December 1832 | 25 March 1833 | Francisco Fernández del Pino (3) |
| 25 March 1833 | 29 November 1833 | Juan Gualberto González Bravo Delgado (3) |

### Regency of María Cristina (1833–1840)

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 29 November 1833 | 15 January 1834 | Juan Gualberto González Bravo (1) |
| 15 January 1834 | 17 February 1835 | Nicolás María Garelli (1) |
| 17 February 1835 | 13 June 1835 | Juan de la Dehesa (1) |
| 13 June 1835 | 27 September 1835 | Manuel García Herreros (1) |
| 29 September 1835 | 15 May 1836 | Álvaro Gómez Becerra |
| 15 May 1836 | 14 August 1836 | Manuel Barrio Ayuso (1) |
| 14 August 1836 | 18 August 1837 | José Landero y Corchado (1) |
| 18 August 1837 | 1 February 1837 | Ramón Salvato (1) |
| 1 February 1837 | 4 February 1837 | Juan Antonio Castejón (1) |
| 4 February 1837 | 16 December 1837 | Pablo Mata Vigil (1) |
| 16 December 1837 | 6 September 1838 | Francisco Castro y Orozco (1) |
| 6 September 1838 | 21 November 1838 | Domingo Ruiz de la Vega (1) |
| 21 November 1838 | 9 December 1838 | Antonio González y González (1) |
| 9 December 1838 | 20 July 1840 | Lorenzo Arrazola (1) |
| 20 July 1840 | 12 August 1840 | Antonio González y González (1) |
| 12 August 1840 | 29 August 1840 | Francisco Agustín Silvela y Blanco (1) |
| 29 August 1840 | 11 September 1840 | Modesto Cortázar (1) |
| 11 September 1840 | 16 September 1840 | Álvaro Gómez Becerra (1) |

### Regency of Baldomero Espartero (1840–1843)

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 16 September 1840 | 20 May 1841 | Álvaro Gómez Becerra (1) |
| 20 May 1841 | 17 June 1842 | José Alonso Ruiz de Conejares (1) |
| 17 June 1842 | 9 May 1843 | Miguel Antonio de Zumalacarregui (1) |
| 9 May 1843 | 19 May 1843 | Joaquín María López (1) |
| 19 May 1843 | 30 July 1843 | Álvaro Gómez Becerra (1) |

### Reign of Isabel II (1843–1868)

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 25 July 1843 | 24 November 1843 | Joaquín María López (1) |
| 24 November 1843 | 1 December 1843 | Claudio Antón de Luzuriaga (1) |
| 5 December 1843 | 12 February 1846 | Luis Mayans y Enríquez de Navarra (1) |
| 13 February 1846 | 16 March 1846 | Lorenzo Arrazola (1) |
| 16 March 1846 | 5 April 1846 | Pedro Egaña (1) |
| 5 April 1846 | 28 January 1847 | Joaquín Díaz Caneja (1) |
| 28 January 1847 | 28 March 1847 | Juan Bravo Murillo (1) |
| 30 March 1847 | 3 September 1847 | Florencio Rodríguez Vaamonde (1) |
| 3 September 1847 | 4 February 1847 | Florencio García Goyena (1) |
| 4 February 1847 | 19 February 1849 | Lorenzo Arrazola (1) |
| 19 February 1849 | 20 February 1849 | José Manresa (1) |
| 20 February 1849 | 14 January 1851 | Lorenzo Arrazola (1) |
| 14 January 1851 | 14 December 1852 | Ventura González Romero (1) |
| 14 December 1852 | 9 April 1853 | Federico Vahey Alba (1) |
| 14 April 1853 | 19 September 1853 | Pablo Govantes (1) |
| 19 September 1853 | 16 January 1854 | José de Castro y Orozco (1) |
| 16 January 1854 | 17 July 1854 | Jacinto Félix Domenech (1) |
| 18 July 1854 | 30 July 1854 | Pedro Gómez de la Serna (1) |
| 30 July 1854 | 29 November 1854 | José Alonso Ruiz de Conejares (1) |
| 29 November 1854 | 6 June 1855 | Joaquín Aguirre de la Peña (1) |
| 6 June 1855 | 15 January 1856 | Manuel Fuente Andrés (1) |
| 15 January 1856 | 14 July 1856 | José Arias Uría (1) |
| 14 July 1856 | 7 August 1856 | Claudio Antón de Luzuriaga (1) |
| 7 August 1856 | 12 February 1856 | Cirilo Álvarez (1) |
| 12 February 1856 | 15 February 1857 | Manuel Seijas Lozano (1) |
| 15 February 1857 | 25 February 1857 | Fernando Álvarez (1) |
| 25 February 1857 | 14 January 1858 | Joaquín José Casaus (1) |
| 14 January 1858 | 30 June 1858 | José Fernández de la Hoz (1) |
| 30 June 1858 | 17 January 1863 | Santiago Fernández Negrete (1) |
| 17 January 1863 | 9 February 1863 | Nicomedes Pastor Díaz (1) |
| 9 February 1863 | 2 March 1863 | Pedro Nolasco Aurioles Aguado (1) |
| 2 March 1863 | 17 January 1864 | Rafael Monares Cebrián (1) |
| 17 January 1864 | 1 March 1864 | Fernando Álvarez (1) |
| 1 March 1864 | 16 September 1864 | Luis Mayans y Enríquez de Navarra (1) |
| 16 September 1864 | 21 June 1865 | Lorenzo Arrazola (1) |
| 21 June 1865 | 10 July 1866 | Fernando Calderón Collantes (1) |
| 10 July 1866 | 27 June 1867 | Lorenzo Arrazola (1) |
| 27 June 1867 | 15 June 1868 | Joaquín de Roncali y Ceruti (1) |
| 15 June 1868 | 30 September 1868 | Carlos María Coronado (1) |

### Sexenio Democrático

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 8 February 1868 | 18 June 1869 | Antonio Romero Ortiz (1) |
| 18 June 1869 | 13 July 1869 | Cristóbal Martín de Herrera (1) |
| 13 July 1869 | 9 January 1870 | Manuel Ruiz Zorrilla (1) |
| 9 January 1870 | 4 January 1871 | Eugenio Montero Ríos (1) |

### Reign of Amadeo I (1871–1873)

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 4 January 1871 | 24 July 1871 | Augusto Ulloa (1) |
| 24 July 1871 | 5 October 1871 | Eugenio Montero Ríos (1) |
| 5 October 1871 | 26 May 1872 | Eduardo Alonso Colmenares (1) |
| 26 May 1872 | 13 June 1872 | Alejandro Groizard (1) |
| 13 June 1872 | 12 February 1873 | Eugenio Montero Ríos (1) |

### First Spanish Republic (1873–1874)

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 12 February 1873 | 11 June 1873 | Nicolás Salmerón y Alonso (1) |
| 11 June 1873 | 28 June 1873 | José Fernando González (1) |
| 28 June 1873 | 18 July 1873 | Joaquín Gil Bergés (1) |
| 19 July 1873 | 4 September 1873 | Pedro José Moreno Rodríguez (1) |
| 8 September 1873 | 3 January 1874 | Luis del Río y Ramos (1) |
| 3 January 1874 | 4 January 1874 | Eugenio García Ruiz (1) |
| 4 January 1874 | 13 May 1874 | Cristino Martos Balbi (1) |
| 13 May 1874 | 3 September 1874 | Manuel Alonso Martínez (1) |
| 3 September 1874 | 31 December 1874 | Eduardo Alonso Colmenares (1) |

### Reign of Alfonso XII (1874–1885)

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 31 December 1874 | 12 September 1875 | Francisco de Cárdenas Espejo (1) |
| 12 September 1875 | 2 December 1875 | Fernando Calderón Collantes (1) |
| 2 December 1875 | 14 January 1877 | Cristóbal Martín de Herrera (1) |
| 14 January 1877 | 6 January 1879 | Fernando Calderón Collantes (1) |
| 6 January 1879 | 7 March 1879 | Saturnino Álvarez Bugallal (1) |
| 7 March 1879 | 9 December 1879 | Pedro Nolasco Aurioles Aguado (1) |
| 9 December 1879 | 8 February 1881 | Saturnino Álvarez Bugallal (1) |
| 8 February 1881 | 9 January 1883 | Manuel Alonso Martínez (1) |
| 9 January 1883 | 13 October 1883 | Vicente Romero Girón (1) |
| 13 October 1883 | 18 January 1884 | Aureliano Linares Rivas (1) |
| 18 January 1881 | 27 November 1885 | Francisco Silvela Le Vielleuze (1) |

### Regency of María Cristina (1885-1902)

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 27 November 1885 | 11 December 1888 | Manuel Alonso Martínez (1) |
| 11 December 1888 | 21 January 1890 | José Canalejas y Méndez (1) |
| 21 January 1890 | 5 July 1890 | Joaquín López Puigcerver (1) |
| 5 July 1890 | 23 November 1891 | Raimundo Fernández Villaverde (1) |
| 23 November 1891 | 11 December 1892 | Fernando Cos-Gayón y Pons (1) |
| 11 December 1892 | 6 July 1893 | Eugenio Montero Ríos (1) |
| 6 July 1893 | 4 November 1894 | Trinitario Ruiz Capdepón (1) |
| 4 November 1894 | 23 March 1895 | Antonio Maura Montaner (1) |
| 23 March 1895 | 14 December 1895 | Francisco Romero Robledo (1) |
| 14 December 1895 | 4 October 1897 | Manuel Aguirre de Tejada (1) |
| 4 October 1897 | 4 March 1899 | Alejandro Groizard y Gómez de la Serna (1) |
| 4 March 1899 | 24 October 1899 | Manuel Durán y Bas (1) |
| 24 October 1899 | 18 April 1900 | Luis María de la Torre y de la Hoz (1) |
| 18 April 1900 | 6 March 1901 | Francisco Javier González de Castejón y Elío (1) |
| 6 March 1901 | 19 March 1902 | Julián García-San Miguel (1) |
| 19 March 1902 | 17 May 1902 | Juan Montilla y Adán (1) |

### Reign of Alfonso XIII (1902-1923)

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 17 May 1902 | 15 November 1902 | Juan Montilla y Adán (1) |
| 15 November 1902 | 6 December 1902 | Joaquín López Puigcerver (1) |
| 6 December 1902 | 20 July 1903 | Eduardo Dato Iradier (1) |
| 20 July 1903 | 5 December 1903 | Francisco Guzmán y Carballeda (1) |
| 5 December 1903 | 16 December 1904 | Joaquín Sánchez de Toca (1) |
| 16 December 1904 | 23 June 1905 | Francisco Javier Ugarte Pagés (1) |
| 23 June 1905 | 31 October 1905 | Joaquín González de la Peña (1) |
| 31 October 1905 | 1 December 1905 | Joaquín López Puigcerver (1) |
| 1 December 1905 | 10 June 1906 | Manuel García Prieto (1) |
| 10 June 1906 | 6 July 1906 | José María Celleruelo Poviones (1) |
| 6 July 1906 | 30 November 1906 | Álvaro de Figueroa y Torres (1) |
| 30 November 1906 | 25 January 1907 | Antonio Barroso Castillo (1) |
| 25 January 1907 | 21 October 1909 | Juan Armada y Losada (1) |
| 21 October 1909 | 9 February 1910 | Eduardo Martínez del Campo y Acosta (1) |
| 9 February 1910 | 3 April 1911 | Trinitario Ruiz Valarino (1) |
| 3 April 1911 | 29 June 1911 | Antonio Barroso Castillo (1) |
| 29 June 1911 | 12 March 1912 | José Canalejas y Méndez (1) |
| 3 April 1911 | 29 June 1911 | Trinitario Ruiz Valarino (1) |
| 29 June 1911 | 12 March 1912 | José Canalejas y Méndez (1) |
| 12 March 1912 | 31 December 1912 | Diego Arias de Miranda y Goytia (1) |
| 31 December 1912 | 24 May 1913 | Antonio Barroso Castillo (1) |
| 24 May 1913 | 13 June 1913 | Álvaro de Figueroa y Torres (1) |
| 13 June 1913 | 27 October 1913 | Pedro Rodríguez de la Borbolla (1) |
| 27 October 1913 | 7 September 1914 | Francisco Javier González de Castejón y Elío (1) |
| 7 September 1914 | 4 January 1915 | Eduardo Dato Iradier (1) |
| 4 January 1915 | 9 December 1915 | Manuel de Burgos y Mazo (1) |
| 9 December 1915 | 8 October 1916 | Antonio Barroso Castillo (1) |
| 8 October 1916 | 19 April 1917 | Juan Alvarado y del Saz (1) |
| 19 April 1917 | 11 June 1917 | Trinitario Ruiz Valarino (1) |
| 11 June 1917 | 3 November 1917 | Manuel de Burgos y Mazo (1) |
| 3 November 1917 | 22 March 1918 | Joaquín Fernández Prida (1) |
| 22 March 1918 | 10 October 1918 | Álvaro de Figueroa y Torres (1) |
| 10 October 1918 | 9 November 1918 | Antonio Maura y Montaner (1) |
| 9 November 1918 | 5 December 1918 | José Roig y Berdagá (1) |
| 5 December 1918 | 15 April 1919 | Alejandro Roselló y Pastors (1) |
| 15 April 1919 | 20 July 1919 | José Bahamonde y de Lanz (1) |
| 20 July 1919 | 12 December 1919 | Pascual Amat y Esteve (1) |
| 12 December 1919 | 5 May 1920 | Pablo Garnica y Echevarría (1) |
| 5 May 1920 | 1 September 1920 | Gabino Bugallal Araújo (1) |
| 1 September 1920 | 13 March 1921 | Mariano Ordóñez García (1) |
| 13 March 1921 | 7 July 1921 | Vicente Piniés Bayona (1) |
| 7 July 1921 | 14 August 1921 | Julio Wais San Martín (1) |
| 14 August 1921 | 8 March 1922 | José Francos Rodríguez (1) |
| 8 March 1922 | 1 April 1922 | José Bertrán y Musitu (1) |
| 1 April 1922 | 4 December 1922 | Mariano Ordóñez García (1) |
| 4 December 1922 | 7 December 1922 | Carlos Cañal y Migolla (1) |
| 7 December 1922 | 26 May 1923 | Álvaro de Figueroa y Torres (1) |
| 26 May 1923 | 15 September 1923 | Antonio López Muñoz (1) |

### Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923-1931)

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 17 September 1923 | 21 December 1923 | Fernando Cadalso Manzano (1) |
| 21 December 1923 | 22 January 1924 | Ernesto Jiménez Sánchez (1) |
| 22 January 1924 | 3 December 1925 | Francisco García Goyena y Alzugaray (1) |
| 3 December 1925 | 3 November 1928 | Galo Ponte y Escartín (1) |
| 3 November 1928 | 30 January 1930 | Galo Ponte y Escartín (2) |
| 30 January 1930 | 25 November 1930 | José Estrada y Estrada (2) |
| 25 November 1930 | 18 February 1931 | Joaquín de Montes Jovellar (2) |
| 18 February 1931 | 14 April 1931 | Manuel García Prieto (2) |

### Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939)

| Took office | Left office | Name | Party |
| 14 April 1931 | 16 December 1931 | Fernando de los Ríos Urruti | PSOE |
| 16 December 1931 | 4 July 1933 | Álvaro de Albornoz Liminiana | PRS |
| 4 July 1933 | 12 September 1933 | Santiago Casares Quiroga | FRG |
| 12 September 1933 | 29 November 1933 | Juan Botella Asensi | IRS |
| 29 November 1933 | 16 December 1933 | Domingo Barnés Salinas | Indep. |
| 16 December 1933 | 17 April 1934 | Ramón Álvarez Valdés | PLD |
| 17 April 1934 | 28 April 1934 | Salvador de Madariaga Rojo | Indep. |
| 28 April 1934 | 4 October 1934 | Vicente Cantos Figuerola | PRR |
| 4 October 1934 | 3 April 1935 | Rafael Aizpún Santafé | CEDA |
| 3 April 1935 | 6 May 1935 | Vicente Cantos Figuerola | PRR |
| 6 May 1935 | 25 September 1935 | Cándido Casanueva y Gorjón | CEDA |
| 25 September 1935 | 14 December 1935 | Federico Salmón Amorín (4) | CEDA |
| 14 December 1935 | 30 December 1935 | Alfredo Martínez García (5) | PLD |
| 30 December 1935 | 19 February 1936 | Manuel Becerra Fernández (5) | PC |
| 19 February 1936 | 13 May 1936 | Antonio Lara Zárate | Republican Union |
| 13 May 1936 | 4 September 1936 | Manuel Blasco Garzón | Republican Union |
| 4 September 1936 | 4 November 1936 | Mariano Ruiz-Funes García | IR |
| 4 November 1936 | 17 May 1937 | Juan García Oliver | CNT |
| 17 May 1937 | 11 December 1937 | Manuel de Irujo y Ollo | PNV |
| 11 December 1937 | 5 April 1938 | Tomás Bilbao Hospitalet | ANV |
| 5 April 1938 | 1 April 1939 | Ramón González Peña | PSOE |

### Francoism (1939-1975)

| Took office | Left office | Name |
| 3 October 1936 | 30 January 1938 | José Cortés López |
| 30 January 1938 | 9 August 1939 | Tomás Domínguez Arévalo |
| 9 August 1939 | 16 March 1943 | Esteban Bilbao y Eguía |
| 16 March 1943 | 18 July 1945 | Eduardo Aunós |
| 18 July 1945 | 18 July 1951 | Raimundo Fernández-Cuesta |
| 18 July 1951 | 7 July 1965 | Antonio Iturmendi Bañales |
| 7 July 1965 | 9 June 1973 | Antonio María de Oriol y Urquijo |
| 9 June 1973 | 11 March 1975 | Francisco Ruiz-Jarabo |
| 11 March 1975 | 12 December 1975 | José María Sánchez-Ventura |

### Reign of Juan Carlos I (1975–2014)

| Took office | Left office | Name | Party | Prime Minister |
| 12 December 1975 | 5 July 1976 | Antonio Garrigues Díaz-Cañabate | |
| 5 July 1976 | 4 July 1977 | Landelino Lavilla Alsina | |
| 4 July 1977 | 6 April 1979 | Landelino Lavilla Alsina | UCD | Adolfo Suárez |
| 5 July 1979 | 9 September 1980 | Íñigo Cavero Lataillade | UCD | Adolfo Suárez |
| 9 September 1980 | 1 September 1981 | Francisco Fernández Ordóñez | UCD | Adolfo Suárez |
| 1 September 1981 | 3 December 1982 | Pío Cabanillas Gallas | UCD | Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo |
| 2 December 1982 | 12 July 1988 | Fernando Ledesma Bartret | PSOE | Felipe González |
| 12 July 1988 | 12 March 1991 | Enrique Múgica Herzog | PSOE | Felipe González |
| 12 March 1991 | 13 July 1993 | Tomás de la Quadra-Salcedo | PSOE | Felipe González |
| 14 July 1993 | 19 December 1995 | Juan Alberto Belloch | PSOE | Felipe González |
| 5 May 1996 | 27 April 2000 | Margarita Mariscal de Gante | PP | José María Aznar |
| 28 April 2000 | 10 July 2002 | Ángel Acebes Paniagua | PP | José María Aznar |
| 10 July 2002 | 18 April 2004 | José María Michavila | PP | José María Aznar |
| 18 April 2004 | 12 February 2007 | Juan Fernando López Aguilar | PSOE | José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero |
| 12 February 2007 | 23 February 2009 | Mariano Fernández Bermejo | PSOE | José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero |
| 23 February 2009 | 22 December 2011 | Francisco Caamaño Domínguez | PSOE | José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero |
| 22 December 2011 | 23 September 2014 | Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón | PP | Mariano Rajoy |

### Reign of Felipe VI (since 2014)

| Took office | Left office | Name | Party | Prime Minister |
| 23 September 2014 | 29 September 2014 | Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría | PP (Interim) | Mariano Rajoy |
| 29 September 2014 | 7 June 2018 | Rafael Catalá Polo | PP | Mariano Rajoy |
| 7 June 2018 | 13 January 2020 | Dolores Delgado García | Independent | Pedro Sánchez |
| 13 January 2020 | 12 July 2021 | Juan Carlos Campo | PSOE | Pedro Sánchez |
| 12 July 2021 | 21 November 2023 | Pilar Llop Cuenca | PSOE | Pedro Sánchez |
If the Minister has no number, their title was Minister of Justice.
* Minister of Grace and Justice
* Minister of Justice and Religion
* Secretary of the Office of Grace and Justice
* Minister of Labour and Justice
* Minister of Labour, Justice and Health
* Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes