A Spanish judge who tried to extradite former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in the 1990s is in the dock today accused of abusing judicial powers.
Baltasar Garzon faces three cases linked to his investigations into human rights abuses, corruption and other offences.
Supporters say the charges are part of a politically motivated vendetta against Mr Garzon, who has made enemies among Spain's political elite.
In the first case against him, due to start on today, he is accused of illegally authorising police to record the conversations of lawyers with their clients.
The case was brought by two businessmen awaiting trial for allegedly bribing members of the People's Party (PP), which won a landslide election victory in November. All three cases are private prosecutions, brought by individuals and organisations.
Mr Garzon has dismissed the accusations and Spain's public prosecutor has recommended the judge's acquittal on all the charges.
If Mr Garzon were convicted in any of the cases, he could be banned from serving as a judge for up to 20 years, in what would be a career-ending blow for the 55-year-old.
He is famous for leading an investigation into death squads organised by the Socialist government in the 1980s to fight Basque separatists, an investigation credited with helping the centre-right defeat the left in 1996 elections.
However, the judge has also attracted critics, who have accused him of seeking the limelight with high-profile international cases involving prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and victims who disappeared during the 1970s dictatorship in Argentina.
Mr Garzon is also charged with violating an amnesty law by ordering an investigation into the killing of tens of thousands of civilians during the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, who died in 1975.
In the third case, Mr Garzon faces allegations he dropped an investigation into the head of Spain's biggest bank Santander after receiving payments for a course sponsored by the bank in New York.
The judge's attempt to extradite Pinochet from Britain in 1998 to face charges of human rights abuses following the dictator's 1973 coup in Chile set a precedent for the principle that crimes against humanity can be investigated anywhere.
Reuters