 Later Echávarri became president of the Audiencia of Mexico, a position of authority in the colony second only to that of the viceroy.Although the Audiencia was a legal court, the highest in the colony, and although the "oidores" were judges, the body also exercised important legislative and sometimes executive powers in the government of New Spain.One of the duties of the "oidores" was the weekly inspection of the prisons, to investigate the condition of the premises and to guarantee good treatment of the prisoners.