Tomás y Valiente, Francisco

b. 1932, Valencia; d. 1996, Madrid

   Judge

   Tomás y Valiente held a chair in the history of law at the University of Salamanca from 1964 to 1979. Such a background proved eminently suitable for a post on the Constitutional Tribunal. He joined the Tribunal in 1980, proposed by the socialist PSOE, which was then in opposition, but also supported by the ruling centre-right UCD, and became its President in 1986. His time as President of the Constitutional Tribunal ended in 1992. From a Republican background, he described his ideological position as being close to socialism and was, on occasion, accused of bias by the right. Shortly after being nominated to serve on the Council of State, he was assassinated in his office at the Autonomous University in Madrid on 14 February 1996. The Basque terrorist organization, ETA, claimed responsibilty for the atrocity.

   See also: terrorism

   PAUL HEYWOOD