Judge Eloy Velasco said in a four-page ruling issued Wednesday that the United States has told Spain the U.S. government is holding investigations of its own.
Velasco said for this reason, Spain cannot apply its doctrine of universal jurisdiction, which holds that, under some circumstances, crimes allegedly committed in other countries can be prosecuted in Spain's National Court.
The judge was acting on a complaint brought by human rights lawyers in 2009.
The six Bush administration officials included former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
© 2011 Associated Press
