scholarly journals Assumptions and risks of a dystopian constitutionalism: reflections based on Philip K. Dick

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-124
Author(s):  
Douglas Antônio Rocha Pinheiro

This article is based on the Law and Literature methodology. It analyzes the shortage of contemporary utopian narratives. The object of analysis are the characteristics of constitutionalism in light of literary categories from dystopian literature – especially regarding Philip K. Dick’s “Minority Report”. Thus, this paper examines to what extent the contemporary paranoia – both subjective and systemic – has strengthened court decisions based on pretentious illicit conspirations, as well as institutional solutions justified by the prospective use of automated processes, supposedly neutral and efficient. This paper also discusses the incorporation of a certain time paradigm of contemporary cultures, which is linear and unidirectional, with a rigid differentiation between past, present and future. Such conception creates temporal ghettos, besides imposing a dominant social rhythm that frustrates the very protective trait of constitutionalism, regarding the life projects of vulnerable minorities. Thus, this work reflects upon the fragility of the argumentative integrity seen in certain judicial sentences which are justified by consequentialist lines of thought, and which, by projecting future catastrophic effects for possible decisions, end up legitimizing opposite outcomes. In conclusion, the need for overcoming fear as the fundamental feeling in the social, institutional power is discussed.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Hannah Mae Loke

<p>This paper conducts a law and literature review of the play Daughters of Heaven by Michelanne Forster. The text portrays the murder of Honora Rieper by Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme, and the trial that ensued. This paper explores the play’s depiction of the insanity defence in light of the law of the time and in the context of Christchurch society of the time. The social influence on the application and interpretation of the law is explored via the character of Bridget in particular, who is clearly influenced by Forster’s own views. Forster does not make an explicit ‘good or bad’ judgment on the law, but her shock and disbelief of the events is evident throughout the text. Her use of legal concepts is predominantly for entertainment purposes, and as such is mostly basic and undetailed. This does not, however, detract from Daughters of Heaven from being a dramatically gripping and compelling work.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Hannah Mae Loke

<p>This paper conducts a law and literature review of the play Daughters of Heaven by Michelanne Forster. The text portrays the murder of Honora Rieper by Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme, and the trial that ensued. This paper explores the play’s depiction of the insanity defence in light of the law of the time and in the context of Christchurch society of the time. The social influence on the application and interpretation of the law is explored via the character of Bridget in particular, who is clearly influenced by Forster’s own views. Forster does not make an explicit ‘good or bad’ judgment on the law, but her shock and disbelief of the events is evident throughout the text. Her use of legal concepts is predominantly for entertainment purposes, and as such is mostly basic and undetailed. This does not, however, detract from Daughters of Heaven from being a dramatically gripping and compelling work.</p>


Author(s):  
Yaroslav Skoromnyy ◽  

The article reveals the conceptual foundations of the social responsibility of the court as an important prerequisite for the legal responsibility of a judge. It has been established that the problem of court and judge liability is regulated by the following international and Ukrainian documents, such as: 1) European Charter on the Law «On the Status of Judges» adopted by the Council of Europe; 2) The Law of Ukraine «On the Judicial System and the Status of Judges»; 3) the Constitution of Ukraine; 4) The Code of Judicial Ethics, approved by the Decision of the XI (regular) Congress of Judges of Ukraine; 5) Recommendation CM/Rec (2010) 12 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Council of Europe to member states regarding judges: independence, efficiency and responsibilities; 6) Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct. The results of a survey conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Razumkov Center, the Council of Judges of Ukraine and the Center for Judicial Studios with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation based on the «Monitoring of the State of Independence of Judges in Ukraine – 2012» as part of the study of the level of trust in the modern system were considered and analyzed, justice, judges and courts. It is determined that a judge has both a legal and a moral duty to impartially, independently, in a timely manner and comprehensively consider court cases and make fair judicial decisions, administering justice on the basis of legislative norms. Based on the study of the practice of litigation, it has been proven that judges must skillfully operate with various instruments of protection from public influence. It has been established that in order to ensure the protection of judges from the public, it is necessary to create special units that will function as part of judicial self-government bodies. It was proposed that the Council of Judges of Ukraine, which acts as the highest body of judicial self- government in our state (in Ukraine), legislate the provision on ensuring the protection of the procedural independence of judges.


Author(s):  
Angela Dranishnikova ◽  
Ivan Semenov

The national legal system is determined by traditional elements characterizing the culture and customs that exist in the social environment in the form of moral standards and the law. However, the attitude of the population to the letter of the law, as a rule, initially contains negative properties in order to preserve personal freedom, status, position. Therefore, to solve pressing problems of rooting in the minds of society of the elementary foundations of the initial order, and then the rule of law in the public sphere, proverbs and sayings were developed that in essence contained legal educational criteria.


Author(s):  
Tim Lindsey ◽  
Simon Butt

This book explains Indonesia’s complex legal system and how it works. Covering a wide range of substantive topics from public to private law, including commercial, criminal, and constitutional law, it is the first comprehensive survey of Indonesian law in English. Offering clear answers to practical problems of current law, each chapter sets out relevant laws and leading court decisions, accompanied by an explanation of how the law works in practice, with an analytical critique. The book begins with an account of Indonesia’s Constitution and the key state agencies, before moving to the lawmaking process, decentralization, the judicial system and court procedure, and the legal profession (advocates, notaries, and legal aid). Part II covers traditional customary law (adat), land law, and environmental law, including forest law. Part III focuses on criminal law and procedure, including investigation, arrest, trial, sentencing, and appeals. It also covers human rights law and the law on corruption. Part IV deals with civil law, and covers civil liability, contracts, companies and other business vehicles, labour, foreign investment, taxation, insolvency, banking, competition, and media law. The book concludes in Part V with an account of Indonesia’s complex family law and inheritance system for both Muslims and non-Muslims. The book has an extensive glossary of legal terms, and detailed tables of legislation and court decisions, designed as unique resources for lawyers, policymakers, and researchers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-100
Author(s):  
Andraž Teršek

Abstract The central objective of the post-socialist European countries which are also Member States of the EU and Council of Europe, as proclaimed and enshrined in their constitutions before their official independence, is the establishment of a democracy based on the rule of law and effective legal protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms. In this article the author explains what, in his opinion, is the main problem and why these goals are still not sufficiently achieved: the ruthless simplification of the understanding of the social function and functioning of constitutional courts, which is narrow, rigid and holistically focused primarily or exclusively on the question of whether the judges of these courts are “left or right” in purely daily-political sense, and consequently, whether constitutional court decisions are taken (described, understood) as either “left or right” in purely and shallow daily-party-political sense/manner. With nothing else between and no other foundation. The author describes such rhetoric, this kind of superficial labeling/marking, such an approach towards constitutional law-making as a matter of unbearable and unthinking simplicity, and introduces the term A Populist Monster. The reasons that have led to the problem of this kind of populism and its devastating effects on the quality and development of constitutional democracy and the rule of law are analyzed clearly and critically.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document