A Political Economy Perspective of Judicial Review in the European Union: Judicial Appointments Rule, Accessibility and Jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice

The paper examines the benefits the sovereign member states of the EU expect to derive by granting the European Court of Justice the power to review the collective policy making decisions of the EU legislative bodies. Using the methodology of constitutional political economy it investigates the one-country one-judge rule of judicial appointments in the ECJ, the restrictions imposed on litigants to access the ECJ and the limits on the jurisdiction of the ECJ to review EU legislation. It also analyses how the presence of judicial review affects the size of the policy measures taken by the policy makers.     

国际组织的隐含权力及其限制

常设国际法院和国际法院在对国际组织章程解释的实践中，发展出了国际组织具有隐含权力这样的理论。这一理论极大地促进了国际组织和国际组织法的发展。国际法院则在进一步的实践中，指出了隐含权力理论适用的限制。这有利于保持国际法体系特别是联合国体系的统一性和有效性。     

公共政策与最高人民法院的角色——以关于汶川、玉树和舟曲的通知为分析对象

最高人民法院在一系列的司法文件中形成了关于社会环境因素、管理因素和价值因素的公共政策。最高人民法院回应公共政策有非常状态的应对、社会改革的诉求、政法传统的延续等现实和历史的原因。从公共政策视角来看,最高人民法院在与公共政策相互关系、价值追求、司法哲学等角色定位方面都呈现出一些新趋向。     

Eighteen Ways Courts Should use Technology to Better Serve Their Customers

Courts have traditionally used technology to enhance their internal operations. “Outward‐facing” technology focuses on meeting the needs of the court's customers. The article gives 18 examples of such technology and shows how better serving a court's customers provides direct benefits to the court itself.     

北京知识产权法院若干问题

北京知识产权法院的成立处于建立创新型国家与全面推进依法治国两个重要节点背景下,其建立不仅仅着眼于加强知识产权保护,支持创新驱动,更旨在以知识产权审判机制改革为先导,推动司法体制改革,促进依法治国。北京知识产权法院在法院设置、管理体制、审判机制上有诸多创新,这些为我国探索更为合理有效的知识产权审判体系提供了指引。     

Evaluation of Implementation of the Kentucky Court Rules of Procedure and Practice: An Approach to Assessing the Impact of Court Reform Efforts

This article describes a Supreme Court of Kentucky court improvement initiative designed to promote uniformity and improved court practice with an ultimate goal of the improvement of outcomes for children and families through implementation of Family Court Rules of Procedure and Practice. Twelve jurisdictions were purposely selected to exhibit a range of family and non‐family court jurisdictions, rural and middle‐sized locations. This article focuses on the results of court case file review related to indicators of due process and timeliness. Implications for court evaluation and reform activities are discussed.     

Effectiveness of Functional Family Therapy for Mandated Versus Non‐Mandated Youth

This study compares the outcomes for youth mandated to participate in Functional Family Therapy (FFT) to those whose participation was referred but voluntary. FFT is a short‐term intervention for delinquents and status offenders, along with their parents. The study sample consists of 120 cases: 70 youth and parents who were mandated by the Family Court to participate in FFT and 50 youth and their parents who were referred to FFT by other agencies. The sample is diverse in terms of gender, race and ethnicity. The outcome variables consist of a set of scales obtained from the Strengths and Needs Assessment (SNA). Changes in life domain functioning, child strengths, acculturation, caregivers' strengths, caregivers' needs, child behavioral emotional needs, and child risk behaviors are assessed. The analysis indicates that both groups improved across all domains. Overall, being mandated to participate in FFT does not predict greater improvements in outcomes. The findings suggest that status offenders and minor delinquents who participated in FFT could be processed less formally without foregoing the therapy outcomes.     

中国知识产权法院的愿景及其实现路径

中国知识产权专业审判组织的建构始自20世纪90年代,知识产权法院是其自然延伸。设立知识产权法院有诸多理由,如促进司法统一、提高程序效率、强化知识产权保护、树立良好国际形象、试点司法改革等,但并不能从理性上由此得出知识产权法院具有必然性的结论。因而,知识产权法院是综合政策的结果。知识产权法院在我国应定位于专门法院,其建立与完善是一个长期的过程。有必要借鉴域外知识产权法院的经验,并结合现实国情,建立有中国特色的知识产权法院制度。知识产权法院的建设还应置于司法改革的背景下,在司法体制、机制以及知识产权特别程序制度方面进行探索,为全面的司法改革积累经验。     

Islamic Shariah and Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan

The arbitrary, discriminatory and oppressive application of blasphemy laws in Pakistan has been the cause of much discord and violence in recent years, affecting the non-Muslim population particularly harshly. This article traces the history of such laws and argues that the courts have done little to mitigate the adverse effects of their use by successive governments. The article calls for urgent and concerted international pressure to ensure that the Pakistani authorities respect their obligations under relevant legal instruments.