December 2017 Bar Bulletin
By Joe Terrenzio
On October 1, the Catalan government held a referendum on independence. The Spanish national government sent national police forces to stop the referendum. Whether it was because of Spanish police or a lack of interest, referendum turnout was 43 percent. However, 90 percent of those who voted were in favor of independence.
On October 27, the Catalonia Parliament unilaterally declared independence from Spain. The same day, the Spanish Senate voted to institute direct rule, resulting in the dismissal of Catalonian President Carles Puigdemont, dissolution of the Catalonia Parliament, and suspension of Catalonia’s autonomy.
As of this writing, some Catalan leaders, including Puigdemont, were in...