Madrid , Spain ( CNN ) -- Spain 's best-known judge , Baltasar Garzon , went on trial Tuesday in Madrid accused of abusing his judicial authority in an investigation into financial corruption . The trial before a seven-judge panel at Spain 's Supreme Court began Tuesday morning and if convicted , Garzon , who was suspended in 2010 pending the trial , would not go to jail but could lose his right permanently to be a judge in Spain . The trial in the so-called Gurtel financial and political corruption case is just the first of two trials against Garzon . Next week , a case that many legal experts say is the more important one , accuses Garzon again of overstepping his legal authority while investigating human rights abuses under the former dictatorship of Spain 's Francisco Franco . Garzon became known internationally in 1998 when he sought the extradition of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet , who was in a London hospital . Garzon accused him of the murder of Spaniards in Chile and of crimes of genocide . Garzon said in May 2010 , at the time of suspension from his post as investigating magistrate at the National Court , `` I face this calmly , with the tranquility of knowing that I am innocent of these charges . '' In both trials , Spanish prosecutors have asked that all charges be dropped against Garzon . But , under Spanish law , a private prosecution is also allowed and it is the lawyers for these parties that are pressing the charges against Garzon , judicial authorities and Garzon 's lawyers said . In the financial corruption case that Garzon was investigating , and which still has ongoing trials against defendants in various parts of Spain , Garzon ordered wiretaps against some defendants being held in jail , and some of their conversations were with their lawyers . These lawyers later filed charges against Garzon , saying he had overstepped his judicial authority in ordering the wiretaps and also violated their constitutional rights . Garzon later said that if he planned to investigate the defense lawyers themselves , he would have done so , but that the wiretaps were due to suspicions that the defendants in the corruption scandal were moving funds even while they were in preventative prison . The trial is expected to open with preliminary questions , and if there are no major delays , Garzon might testify on Tuesday . It is due to last three days , a Supreme Court spokesman said Tuesday . The case next week involves alleged abuse of judicial power against Garzon while investigating mass graves under the Franco regime , some of which are still being dug up in Spain . A small civil servants union called Manos Limpias , or Clean Hands , brought charges against Garzon in the Franco case , saying the he ignored a 1977 amnesty law approved by Spanish parliament , two years after Franco 's death . `` Parliament unanimously approved the amnesty law . Judge Baltasar Garzon takes a stance as if they 're crazy . What does he think ? That he 's better than them , '' said Miguel Bernard , leader of Manos Limpias . Bernard denies critics ' charges that his group is a tiny far-right front , but he told CNN he was proud to receive an honor just last month from the Francisco Franco Foundation . Outside the ornate 18th century Supreme Court building , a demonstration in favor of Garzon occurred Tuesday at the door where court officials entered . Human rights groups have been closely following the cases against Garzon . `` It is very ironic that Garzon , who has become a symbol internationally of justice , should be prosecuted at home for the very things that he became a hero for around the world and in Latin America in particular , '' Reed Brody , of Human Rights Watch , told CNN recently . Garzon , 56 , spent 22 years as an investigating magistrate at the National Court , which handles cases of terrorism and other delicate cases . He has investigated the late al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden , the Basque terrorist group ETA , and drug traffickers . At times in the past , Garzon has been considered a darling of the Spanish right or the Spanish left , depending on the cases he was investigating . His critics say he is too flamboyant , always too willing to speak in front of the cameras . Since his suspension in 2010 , Garzon has been working as a legal adviser outside of Spain on human rights cases and judicial issues , including in Latin America . A third case against Garzon , for alleged improprieties in organizing some courses at New York University that had major Spanish corporations as sponsors , is still in the investigation phase and not trial date has been set . In that case as well , Spanish prosecutors have not pressed charges but private prosecution has .
Garzon is known for going after former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and Osama bin Laden . He was suspended in 2010 as a judge pending the trial . He is accused of overstepping his legal authority in several investigations . `` I face this calmly , with the tranquility of knowing that I am innocent , '' Garzon said .