Trial of residence facts for kids

A juicio de residencia (pronounced "HWEE-see-oh day reh-see-DEN-see-ah") was a special legal process used in the old Spanish Kingdom and its colonies in the Americas. It was like a final report card for important government officials. When an official finished their job, their work was checked very carefully. People who had complaints against them could speak up. This check-up happened automatically for most officials, even if no one suspected them of doing anything wrong.

The official could not leave the area where they worked. They also could not start a new job until this special check-up was finished. Usually, the person in charge of this review, called the juez de residencia (residence judge), was the new official taking over the job. If an official was found guilty of wrongdoing, they usually had to pay fines.

What Was a Juicio de Residencia?

The juicio de residencia became very important in the Spanish colonies, known as the Indies. This was probably because the colonies were so far away from Spain. It was hard for the King to keep a close eye on his officials. This process was used for many different officials. It included the highest leaders, like the viceroys, and the presidents of the Real Audiencia (high courts). It also applied to local officials, like the alcaldes (mayors) and alguaciles (judicial officers, like sheriffs). This system ended when the Spanish Constitution of 1812 came into effect.

How the Review Process Worked

At first, every viceroy had to go through their juicio de residencia before the next viceroy could start. But in the 1700s, viceroys had their reviews after they had returned to Spain. This process could take a long time, sometimes up to six months. During this time, officials checked how well the viceroy followed his instructions. They looked at his job performance. Many people gave their opinions and stories about the viceroy's time in office.

Another Way to Check Officials

The Spanish King had another way to keep an eye on his officials. This included the viceroy, who was also the head of the Audiencia (high court). This was called the visitador system. A visitador was an inspector chosen by the King. Their job was to investigate a specific government office or area. Like the juicio de residencia, the visitador system aimed to find any bad actions by officials. It also suggested ways to make things better.

See also

In Spanish: Juicio de residencia para niños