Note 6 — Chapter III · THE JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE AUDIENCIA

The findings of the above inspections might be reviewed by the audiencia and lead to the suspension and dismissal of the official under investigation.6 The final action had to be confirmed by the Council of the Indies in case the person concerned were a royal appointee, but in these matters the action of the local officials was usually approved. For the removal of oidores and oficiales reales a slightly different method was pursued. A magistrate of the audiencia was designated to investigate the case, the evidence was submitted to the Council of the Indies and final action was taken by it and not by the audiencia.7 Any and all charges brought against an official in these investigations, even though he were cleared at the time, might be revived in the residencia.