He later became president of the first section of the Madrid Provincial Court, and, in 2002, he was appointed magistrate of the Second Chamber of the Supreme Court (Criminal Chamber), replacing Adolfo Prego, who was appointed member of the CGPJ.
Máis tarde foi presidente da sección primeira na Audiencia Provincial de Madrid e en 2002 foi nomeado maxistrado da Sala Segunda do Tribunal Supremo ("Sala Penal"), en substitución de Adolfo Prego, que foi nomeado vogal do CGPX.