The decision of the Italian Constitutional Court on numerus clausus: A matter for Community law

This article discusses the recent decision of the Italian Constitutional Court on the numerus clausus issue, containing the first relevant pronouncement by the highest jurisdiction on the constitutional legality of the measures adopted so far by the Ministry. The Constitutional Court considers these measures in conformity with the Constitution to the extent that they implement Community law, and especially certain directives on the recognition of qualifications. Thus, Community law is deemed to provide the proper legal framework to adopt certain regulations, amongst which restrictions to access. This article argues that, in the context of litigation on access to university, Community law has been used improperly and that, in any event, a convenient solution to the issue could have been found in national law. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Legal, Individual, and Environmental Predictors of Court Disposition in a Sample of Serious Adolescent Offenders

Historically, the juvenile court has been expected to consider each youth's distinct rehabilitative needs in the dispositional decision-making process, rather than focusing on legal factors alone. This study examines the extent to which demographic, psychological, contextual, and legal factors, independently predict dispositional outcomes (i.e., probation vs. confinement) within two juvenile court jurisdictions (Philadelphia, Phoenix). The sample consists of 1,355 14- to 18-year-old male and female juvenile offenders adjudicated of a serious criminal offense. Results suggest that legal factors have the strongest influence on disposition in both jurisdictions. For example, a higher number of prior court referrals is associated with an increased likelihood of secure confinement in both jurisdictions. Juveniles adjudicated of violent offenses are more likely to receive secure confinement in Phoenix, but are more likely to be placed on probation in Philadelphia. Race is unrelated to dispositional outcome, but, males are consistently more likely than females to be placed in secure confinement. Importantly, individual factors (e.g., developmental maturity) generally were not powerful independent predictors of disposition. Finally, an examination of the predictors of juvenile versus adult court transfer in Phoenix indicated that males, older juveniles, and those with a violent adjudicated charge were more likely to be transferred to adult court, while juveniles scoring high on responsibility as well as those juveniles with an alcohol dependence diagnosis were more likely to be retained in juvenile court.     

裁判文书网上公开中的隐私问题研究

随着法院信息化建设的推进,裁判文书的公开方式呈现出从纸质到网络的发展趋势。加大了隐私扩散风险。针对法院是否应在网上公开裁判文书及公开的程度等问题,存在着三种观点：禁止说、区别说及同等说。为平衡公众知情权与个人隐私之间的冲突,对裁判文书中记载的敏感的个人信息或有损声誉的事实,需依据裁判文书公开的目的,决定是否将之公开在网上。同时,法院也应采取积极措施应对公众对隐私问题的关注,同等对待纸质公开和网上公开。     

The Changing Role of the Youth Court Judge

The last century has witnessed the creation of a number of strategies regarding youth justice and the young offender. With each change in policy has come a redefinition of the role of the youth court judge. This article discusses the traditional role of the judge, the unique role of the youth court judge, and how history has and is likely to continue to define and influence this role.     

欧洲法院初步裁决制度评述

初步裁决制度是欧盟法中的一项特殊的法律程序制度,适用初步裁决制度的案件占欧洲法院受理案件量的大多数.欧洲法院通过初步裁决制度对欧盟法进行解释,积极扩张其司法管辖的范围,促进了自身和成员国法院的合作,保证了欧盟法律在属于不同法律体系、适用不同诉讼规则的各成员国法院的统一适用,成为推动欧洲一体化进程的重要力量.就初步裁决的运行机制、这一制度本身存在的主要问题以及该制度的改革等进行了深入的探研,以期获得对欧盟法的这一重要制度的一个正确、客观、全面的认识.     

论当庭宣判

当庭宣判对于实现实体公正、程序公正以及提高诉讼效率都具有非常重要的意义。在我国,定期宣判被普遍化而当庭宣判则成为例外的做法,这种现象弱化了法庭审判的功能,导致许多案件的一审、二审甚至再审程序被架空,加剧了司法腐败和司法不公,同时妨碍了社会公众对审判活动的监督。这一问题的出现有着复杂的原因:庭前和庭审阶段存在的问题使法官难以当庭宣判;立法上存在的缺陷使法官不愿当庭宣判;错案追究制使法官不敢当庭宣判。要实现当庭宣判制度,必须进行相应的制度改革。     

论人大对司法的个案监督与法院审判独立原则

个案监督是我国一些地方人大近年来开始运用的一种监督方式,但对它的法律依据和现实意义,实践中存在不同看法。从保障审判公正的角度看,个案监督这一做法与独立审判原则存在着对立和冲突。人大对审判工作的合理监督,应当着眼于在更高层次上进行全局性的监督,以维护法院的独立审判原则。     

From Centre Stage to Spear Carrier: The Repositioning of the English Juvenile Court

The approach of the new millennium poses significant challenges for the way in which the youth justice system in general, and the juvenile (now youth) court in particular, develops in the future. The past one hundred years of the juvenile court in England and Wales have seen its role both flow and ebb. It currently faces further significant repositioning. The author distinguishes four themes which have influenced the marginalisation of the juvenile court: bifurcation, diversion, manageralism and legislation of the court.     

法院调解优先的冷思考

近年来,法院调解作为维护和谐社会的一项司法政策被强化,并被推至优先地位。但是,强化调解可能形成义务人无需充分履行义务的期待,导致久调不决的现象发生,降低了诉讼效率;强化调解所营造的使权利人让步的＂囚徒困境＂会折损诉讼公正,会使人们的法律虚无主义意识蔓延。与此同时,调解优先使法院在司法实践中也陷入困境,即法院调解优先与民事诉讼以审判为中心的程序构造相背离,使法官在民事诉讼程序中无所适从;而且加剧法院调解能力下降与追求高调解率之间的矛盾,并使＂强制调解＂再次成为司法垢病。为使调解回归应有状态,我们必须尊重调解和审判的特点,消除二者非此即彼的对立状态,寻求二者共同发展的契机。唯有如此,才能完善民事诉讼纠纷解决机制,发挥调解和审判的优势。     

国际法院作用探讨

国际法院是联合国的主要司法机关 ,但尚未发挥其应有的作用。本文在《国际法院规约》的范围内 ,从国际法院管辖权的角度 ,探讨了加强国际法院作用的现实途径 :有所侧重地利用其诉讼管辖 ;充分利用具有多种优势的特别分庭 ;而咨询管辖则为国际组织提供了预防与解决争端的新途径。     

论司法公正与我国法院体制改革

法院应当在社会关系中具有独立性和中立性,这是体现司法公正的前提和条件。对照联合国关于法院为司法公正的应当具有独立性的通常标准,可以查找出我国法院在体制方面存在一些不足,我国法院体制在实现司法公正方面应当进行改革。     

初探塞拉里昂特别法庭

塞拉里昂特别法庭是进入21世纪以来,联合国主导创立的国际化刑事法庭之一。通过介绍其创立及创立依据的法律文件、其机构及其管辖权,总结出塞拉里昂特别法庭的特点,指出其兼备了国际特设刑事审判机构和国际化刑事法庭的优点。     

The Regionalisation of Judicial Review: Constitutional Authority,Access to Justice and Specialisation of Legal Services in Public Law

Since April 2009 judicial reviews may be dealt with at regional centres and in Cardiff. This change significantly relaxed the hitherto highly centralised system of judicial review in England and Wales. The main aims were to improve access to public law redress by enabling cases to be listed and heard at the most appropriate regional location. Despite recognition of the need to improve regional access, fears exist that this reform will threaten the standing and authority of judicial review in this jurisdiction; that it will contribute to a fragmentation of judicial review and, in the regions, reduce the quality of public law adjudication, legal advice and representation. Drawing on an empirical study on the regional use of judicial review, this paper assesses these matters and considers the early effects of regionalisation on access to judicial review and the development of regional markets for legal services in public law.     

国际组织管辖豁免：从绝对豁免走向限制豁免

作为国际法的主体,国际组织享有豁免权得到了普遍的承认。但是,随着国际法的发展,国际组织豁免权也遭遇了严重挑战。尽管如此,国际法的实践表明,国际组织管辖豁免尚未如国家管辖豁免一样从绝对豁免发展为限制豁免。当事人＂诉诸法院之权利＂作为国际组织豁免的制衡器,还没有发展成为习惯国际法,国际强行法也并不必然具有否定国际组织管辖豁免的效力。从人权保护角度讲,如果要维护国际组织豁免权以保障其独立行使职能,就要积极寻求完善相应的替代争议解决机制,保障当事人寻求正义权利的实现。     

‘Our normal is different’: autistic adults’ experiences of the family courts

ABSTRACT

This article reports the findings of a small-scale qualitative study exploring the experiences of autistic adults who have had experience of the family justice system. While participants related some positive elements to their experiences, in particular with regard to the willingness of professionals to try to learn more about their clients’ needs, the overall picture showed significant concerns. The reports given showed significant misunderstandings about autism, and a system which struggled to make appropriate adjustments which would allow autistic court users to have access to justice on an equivalent basis to non-autistic litigants. This situation stands in contrast to the position regarding other disabilities in the Family Justice System, but also to the relatively greater level of provision for autistic people within the Criminal Justice System. Based on participants’ experiences and existing good practice in other areas, we make recommendations that could be adopted by the Family Court and practitioners.     

“诱惑侦查”人员出庭作证问题研究

近年来,随着犯罪案件类型日益复杂化,传统侦查手段和技术在侦破一些特殊案件时遇到严峻考验。诱惑侦查作为一种特殊的侦查手段被频繁适用于那些具有高度隐蔽性、组织性、智能化如贩毒、行受贿、网络犯罪等案件的侦查取证中,然而我国法律并没有对诱惑侦查做具体规定,由此引发的法律问题进一步凸现,“诱惑侦查”人员出庭作证的相关问题需做进一步探讨。     

论法院调解制度改革

本文认为 ,调解的改革应当是废除调、审合一的体制 ,建立调解和审判适当分离的体制 ,即调解由准备法官在审前准备程序中进行 ,主持调解的法官不能参加对调解无效案件的审判。     

Mental Health Court Outcomes: A Comparison of Re-Arrest and Re-Arrest Severity Between Mental Health Court and Traditional Court Participants

Mental health courts have been proliferating across the country since their establishment in the late 1990's. Although numerous advocates have proclaimed their merit, only few empirical studies have evaluated their outcomes. This paper evaluates the effect of one mental health court on criminal justice outcomes by examining arrests and offense severity from one year before to one year after entry into the court, and by comparing mental health court participants to comparable traditional criminal court defendants on these measures. Multivariate models support the prediction that mental health courts reduce the number of new arrests and the severity of such re-arrests among mentally ill offenders. Similar analysis of mental health court completers and non-completers supports the prediction that a "full dose" of mental health treatment and court monitoring produce even fewer re-arrests.