Custom in the Enforcement of the Law: The Power of the Attorney-General to Stay Criminal Proceedings

1986 ◽  
Vol 21 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 333-357
Author(s):  
Ruth Gavison
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Legal Theory ◽  
Attorney General ◽  
Criminal Proceedings ◽  
Legal Problems ◽  
Life Problems ◽  
The Law ◽  
Complex Relationships ◽  
The Many ◽  
The One

This article is a synopsis of a monograph which will be published shortly (in Hebrew) by the Harry Sacher Institute for Legislative Research and Comparative Law. I dedicate it to Professor Tedeschi because he was the one who triggered it ten years ago, with his suggestion that the study of law, and especially the study of contexts of discretion in the law, cannot be complete without detailed studies of the ways in which officers in practice use their powers. Custom thus has an easily overlooked importance as a source of law even in modern systems, in the many areas in which mere knowledge of the normative framework within which powers are exercised is insufficient for a knowledge and understanding of the law.Tedeschi's suggestion seemed correct on its face, to an extent sufficient to motivate me to leave theorizing about law from the armchair and look into the practice of law enforcement. I emerged from the adventure even more convinced of his insight than when I started.While working on the subject I realized that comparative analysis was also of relevance to such questions, and that important questions were raised about the utility of such analyses in attempts to solve one's problems. Again I have found that Tedeschi articulated the conclusion I have reached in an early article published years ago.So these insights of his were added to the many things for which I am indebted to Professor Tedeschi: the solid commitment to legal scholarship for which he has always stood; the varied, persistent and prolific interest he has in all things legal and in the life-problems which the law seeks to regulate, resulting in many essays which are to this day classic in their field; and the fact that he is among the rare scholars who practice what they preach. If we take the importance of custom as an example, Tedeschi insists on including sections on custom in all his articles on legal problems, and in many instances this combination of great analytical strength and attention to social reality is what makes Tedeschi's writings so important. It is rare to have such people as one's teachers, and I feel lucky and grateful to have been his student.The larger study on which this article is based elaborates in some detail these larger jurisprudential questions of the complex relationships between solutions of legal problems (or law reform) and legal theory, empirical research and comparative analysis. Here I shall confine myself to the major findings of my research into the reality and the ideal of the power of the Attorney-General to stay criminal proceedings.

Preventive Confinement of Dangerous Offenders

2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Morse
Keyword(s):  
Legal Theory ◽  
The Other ◽  
Legal Issue ◽  
Central Theme ◽  
Sexual Predators ◽  
Dangerous Offenders ◽  
New Form ◽  
The Law ◽  
The One ◽  
Constitutional Regime

How to respond justly to the dangers persistent violent offenders present is a vexing moral and legal issue. On the one hand, we wish to reduce predation; on the other, we want to treat predators fairly. The central theme of this paper is that it is difficult to achieve both goals without compromising one of them, and that both are being seriously undermined. I begin by explaining the legal theory, doctrine and practice governing dangerous offenders (DO) and demonstrate that the law leaves a gap in the ability to confine them. Next I explore the means by which the law has overtly or covertly sought to fill the gap. Many of these measures, especially the new form of civil commitment for sexual predators, dangerously conflate moral and medical categories. I conclude that pure preventive detention is more common than we usually assume, but that this practice violates fundamental assumptions concerning liberty under the American constitutional regime.

scholarly journals PROCEDURAL STATUS OF A LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE IN THE MODERN RUSSIAN CRIMINAL PROCESS

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 669-673
Author(s):  
L.G. Tatyanina ◽  
E.V. Markovicheva
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Universal Model ◽  
Legal Representative ◽  
Criminal Proceedings ◽  
Criminal Process ◽  
Legal Representation ◽  
Judicial Practice ◽  
The Law ◽  
The One ◽  
Modern Russian

The article reveals the features of the normative consolidation of the procedural status of a legal representative in the Russian criminal process. The authors focus their attention on the problems of investigative and judicial practice related to the shortcomings of the current legislation. The most important issues that need to be addressed as soon as possible have been identified. Particular attention is drawn to the need to resolve problems arising from conflicts between a legitimate representative and a person represented by him/her, which gives rise, on the one hand, to grounds for appealing against decisions made, and on the other, to a conflict between the parties, which may affect their subsequent relationship. The absence of a single rule regulating the rights of legal representatives raises questions in practice about the possibility of their participation in individual investigative and procedural actions, applications, etc. Attention is drawn to the lack of regulation in the law of the duties of a legal representative in criminal proceedings, which creates controversial situations when assessing their behavior, especially when deciding on their removal from participation in the case. The article concludes that it is necessary to develop a single, universal model of legal representation in criminal proceedings.

The Missing Reversioner: Reflections on the Status of Judea and Samaria

1968 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yehuda Z. Blum
Keyword(s):  
West Bank ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Legal Services ◽  
Criminal Proceedings ◽  
The West ◽  
Legal Problems ◽  
Civil Proceedings ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Law ◽  
Six Day War

Two recent decisions handed down by the Hebron magistrate, Mr. Hussein El-Shajuchi, and by the Bethlehem magistrate, Mr. Tawfik El-Sakka, on February 5, 1968 and on February 27, 1968, respectively, have brought to the fore some interesting legal problems arising from the Six Day War of June, 1967 as a result of which Judea and Samaria (formerly known as the “West Bank” of the Kingdom of Jordan) have come under Israeli control.The immediate cause that has given rise to the elaboration by the two learned magistrates of the problems to be dealt with in this paper was the promulgation by the Officer Commanding, Israel Defence Forces in Judea and Samaria, on October 23, 1967, of Order No. 145, concerning the status of Israeli advocates in the courts of Judea and Samaria. Article 2 of the said Order provides that “notwithstanding any existing provisions to the contrary, any party to civil proceedings and any defendant in criminal proceedings may authorise an Israeli advocate to represent him in such proceedings.” Article 4 of the same Order stipulates that the Order shall be in force for a period of six months from the date of its entry into force (i.e. October 23, 1967) unless it is terminated at an earlier date by the Officer Commanding, Israel Defence Forces in Judea and Samaria. In the preamble to the Order the reasons given for its promulgation are “to ensure the efficient maintenance of the law, to enable the uninterrupted functioning of the Courts in the District [of Judea and Samaria] and to make available the services of advocates to the local population.” As will be more fully explained later, the reason for promulgating this Order was the strike of Arab lawyers in Judea and Samaria, which threatened to deprive courts and clients there of legal services.

scholarly journals Juvenile justice: certain aspects of its understanding

2021 ◽  
pp. 274-278
Author(s):  
N.I. Ustrytsʹka ◽  
Z.F. Dilʹna
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Child Victims ◽  
Criminal Proceedings ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Criminal Offense ◽  
The Law ◽  
Rights And Interests ◽  
The One ◽  
Definition Of

The article is devoted to the concept of justice for children. Doctrinal provisions on the understanding of juvenile justice in a broad and narrow aspect are considered. It has been studied that juvenile justice will make it possible to create the best environment for children, to protect their rights and interests. It has been established that juvenile justice covers children on the one hand, and an extensive system of public authorities on the other, whose functional duty is to protect and ensure the rights and interests of children. It is considered that juvenile justice covers a certain category of persons under the age of 18, namely children (minors and minors) who are at risk or in conflict with the law, as well as children in contact with the law - child victims of delinquency. , children witnesses of a criminal offense. Equally important is ensuring the rights and interests of children in need of state protection and support. It is investigated that the subject of justice for children are bodies and services whose activities are aimed at protecting and ensuring the rights of children, special institutions and institutions of social protection for children. An important role is given to the improvement of law enforcement and judicial systems in the aspect of juvenile justice. It is emphasized that the effective functioning of juvenile justice requires the interaction and coordination of its subjects. Therefore, it is necessary that the system of subjects of justice for children be clear with the definition of the competence of each of the subjects, stable, and have a coordinating center. It has been established that the system of juvenile justice subjects needs further reform. First of all, this concerns the problems of reforming the child-friendly justice system. After all, today the specialization of judges authorized to conduct criminal proceedings against minors can be considered only as additional functional powers. It is also noted that the institute of juvenile prosecutor's office is at the stage of formation and formation taking into account its functions and tasks.

STRENGTHENING LEGALITY IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FUNCTIONING AT THE STAGE OF INSTITUTING CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AS A MEANS OF PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS

2021 ◽  
pp. 60-65
Author(s):  
Ramil T. Rafikov
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Criminal Code ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Criminal Proceedings ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Drug Crime ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Law ◽  
The One

In the article the author examines the issues related to the improvement of legislation in the functioning of law enforcement agencies, in particular that on their counteraction to organized drug crime. We are talking about the amendment to Article 146 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, according to which criminal proceedings on crimes under Articles 228.1 and 228.4 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on the fact of illegal drugs dealing cannot be initiated in the absence of data on the type, weight and name of drugs, as well as sufficient evidence indicating their transfer to other persons. The law-in-draft is aimed, on the one hand, at protecting citizens, on the other – at increasing the exactingness to law enforcement agencies at the initial stage of criminal – proceedings related to drug crime. The grounds for instituting a criminal proceeding for illegal drug dealing should be the facts of drug transfer to another person, as well as an expert opinion determining their mass, type and name.

Technical Solutions for Legal Challenges: Equality of Arms in Criminal Proceedings

Global Jurist ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Serena Quattrocolo ◽  
Cosimo Anglano ◽  
Massimo Canonico ◽  
Marco Guazzone
Keyword(s):  
Computational Models ◽  
Legal Theory ◽  
European Convention ◽  
Criminal Proceedings ◽  
Learning Machines ◽  
The Right To Privacy ◽  
Legal Frameworks ◽  
The One ◽  
The Right ◽  
Technical Solutions

AbstractThe paper focuses on how computational models and methods impact on current legal systems, and in particular, on criminal justice. While the discussion about the suitabilty of the exploitation of learning machines and Artificial Intelligence (AI) either as surveillance means and human substitutes in the judicial decision-making process is arising, the authors reflect upon the risk of using AI and algorithm-based evidence in criminal proceedings. The claim of the paper is twofold: on the one hand, we should reinterpret todays legal frameworks, e. g. the European Convention of Human Rights, shifting the attention from possible violations of the right to privacy to potential infringements on a basic fair trial feature, the Equality of Arms. On the other hand, we should aknowledge that main legal issues, triggered by the breathtaking advancements in AI, can properly be addressed mainly through technical solutions (e. g. methods for assessing the completeness and correctness of digital evidence related to mobile devices and conversations). No legal theory, which overlooks the crossover of juridical and computational expertise, will survive the present time.

scholarly journals One-Sided and Incomplete Investigation of the Circumstances of the Case in Adversarial Criminal Proceedings

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 140-148
Author(s):  
E. A. Perova
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Criminal Case ◽  
Criminal Proceedings ◽  
Procedural Code ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Law ◽  
The One ◽  
Court Practice

Art. 389.15 of the Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation contains a closed list of grounds for reversing or altering court rulings. The one-sidedness and incompleteness of the investigation of the factual circumstances of the criminal case is not indicated as one of such grounds. A one-sided or incomplete investigation of the factual circumstances of the case taken place in the course of criminal proceedings can influence the justness of the sentence. This conclusion follows from the analysis of the court practice formed after the 2013 reform. One of the goals of this reform was to obtain a “definitive judgment” upon completion of the appeal. Despite this, during the implementation of the reform, Article 389.15 of the Criminal Procedural Code of the Russian Federation, which establishes the list of grounds for reversing or altering court rulings, was not brought into line with the objectives of the reform. The law does not provide for such a ground as an incorrect investigation by the court of the factual circumstances of the criminal case, despite the numerous facts of revealing this violation by the courts of controlling authority.

scholarly journals Comment: The Preliminary Inquiry in Ethiopia and Its Adverse Impact on the Rights of the Accused

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-160
Author(s):  
Wondwossen Demissie Kassa
Keyword(s):  
Attorney General ◽  
Criminal Procedure ◽  
Fair Trial ◽  
Adverse Impact ◽  
Criminal Investigation ◽  
Criminal Proceedings ◽  
Procedure Code ◽  
Unique Nature ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Right

Whether preliminary inquiry should be conducted following completion of criminal investigation was one of the issues that arose in criminal proceedings of leaders of some opposition parties who were arrested (in June and July 2020) following the assassination of Hachalu Hundessa. The Court accepted the request of the Office of the Attorney General for the holding of preliminary inquiry. While the request of the Office of the Attorney General and the ruling of the court are consistent with the 1961 Criminal Procedure Code, in view of the unique nature of the Ethiopian Preliminary Inquiry, both the request and the ruling adversely affect the right of the accused to a fair trial. The application of the law regulating preliminary inquiry would be a departure from the principle of equality of arms and the right of the accused to confrontation, both of which are elements of the right to a fair trial. It is argued (in this comment) that using evidence obtained during preliminary inquiry against the accused is inconsistent with the FDRE Constitution and relevant international legal instruments.

Theories of Choice and the Law—An Introduction

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Stefan Grundmann ◽  
Philipp Hacker
Keyword(s):  
The Past ◽  
Legal Problems ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Many

This introduction highlights the importance of theories of choice for the law, but it also stresses the need to distinguish and decide between different types of choice theories for concrete legal applications. It first discusses the problem of selecting an appropriate theory of choice, from the many varieties that have developed in the past decades, for a specific regulatory problem. Second, it advocates making explicit the sometimes hidden epistemic and normative assumptions behind choice-theoretic models. Third, it argues for a genuinely normative assessment, and a conceptual reconstruction, of theories of choice before their application to specific legal problems. The chapter concludes with an overview of the four Parts of this volume.

The Law before its law: Franz Kafka on the (Im)possibility of Law's Self-reflection

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunther Teubner
Keyword(s):  
Franz Kafka ◽  
The Other ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Many ◽  
The One ◽  
Single Question

Before the Law stands a doorkeeper. A man from the countryside comes up to the door and requests admittance to the Law. But the doorkeeper says that he can't grant him admittance now. The man thinks it over and then asks if he'll be allowed to enter later. “It's possible” says the doorkeeper, “but not now.” Since the gate to the Law stands open as always, and the doorkeeper steps aside, the man bends down to look through the gate into the interior. When the doorkeeper sees this, he laughs and says: “If you're so drawn to it, go ahead and try to enter, even though I've forbidden it. But bear this in mind: I'm powerful. And I'm only the lowest doorkeeper. From hall to hall, however, stand doorkeepers each more powerful than the one before. The mere sight of the third is more than even I can bear.” The man from the country has not anticipated such difficulties; the Law should be accessible to anyone at any time, he thinks, but as he now examines the doorkeeper in his fur coat more closely, his large, sharply pointed nose, his long, thin, blank tartar's beard, he decides he would prefer to wait until he receives permission to enter. And the doorkeeper gives him a stool and lets him sit down at the side of the door. He sits there for days and years. He asks time and again to be admitted and wearies the doorkeeper with his entreaties. The doorkeeper often conducts brief interrogations, inquiring about his home and many other matters, but he asks such questions indifferently, as great men do, and in the end he always tells him he still can't admit him. The man, who has equipped himself well for the journey, uses everything he has, no matter how valuable, to bribe the doorkeeper. And the doorkeeper accepts everything, but as he does so he says: “I'm taking this just so you won't think you've neglected something.” Over the many years, the man observes the doorkeeper almost incessantly. He forgets the other doorkeepers and this first one seems to him the only obstacle to his admittance to the Law. He curses his unhappy fate, loudly during the first years, later, as he grows older, merely grumbling to himself. He turns childish, and since he has come to know even the fleas in the doorkeeper's collar over his years of study, he asks the fleas too to help him change the doorkeeper's mind. Finally his eyes grow dim and he no longer knows whether it's really getting darker around him or if his eyes are merely deceiving him. And yet in the darkness he now sees a radiance that streams forth inextinguishably from the door of the Law. He doesn't have much longer to live now. Before he dies, everything he has experienced over the years coalesces in his mind into a single question he has never asked the doorkeeper. He motions to him, since he can no longer straighten his stiffening body. The doorkeeper hat to bend down to him, for the difference in size between them has altered greatly to the man's disadvantage. “What do you want to know now,” asks the doorkeeper, “you're insatiable.” “Everyone strives to reach the Law,” says the man, “how does it happen, then, that in all these years no one but me has requested admittance.” The doorkeeper sees that the man in nearing his end, and in order to reach his failing hearing, he roars at him: “No one else could gain admittance here, because this entrance was meant solely for you. I'm going to go and shut it now.”

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