Spain's most famous judge will himself be appearing in court today, accused of overreaching his judicial powers.

In October 2008, Baltasar Garzón began a controversial inquiry into atrocities committed during the Franco era and today the Supreme Court will hear a complaint by right-wing group, Manos Limpias, that the judge knowingly exceeded his official remit.

Judge Garzon's headline-grabbing indictments have targeted people like Augusto Pinochet and Osama Bin Laden.

Amidst much publicity, Garzón had pledged to investigate the disappearance of more than 100,000 people during and after the 1936-39 Spanish Civil War, but the inquiry was shelved following opposition from state prosecutors and his fellow judges.

Manos Limpias alleges that the judge knowingly exceeded his legal remit by asking government departments to hand over papers from the Franco period.

Garzón vehemently denies breaking the law, and has the backing of the International Commission of Jurists - which says his short-lived inquiry did not justify disciplinary action, let alone criminal prosecution.

Garzón is unlikely to be convicted of a crime, but his very appearance in court shows how the Civil War continues to haunt Spain today.