现代刑事诉讼法的“帝王"原则:程序法定原则重述

程序法定原则作为刑事诉讼法的首位原则、“帝王”原则,构成了现代程序法的基石, 其地位如同罪刑法定原则之于刑法典。从内容上分析,程序法定原则包括了形式(程序合法性)和实质(程序正当性)两项要件,由此产生了形式意义上的程序法定原则和实质意义上的程序法定原则。作为现代刑事诉讼程序的一种通论性和一般性原则,程序法定原则对于整个刑事诉讼程序具有统摄性,在刑事诉讼各个阶段都存在着程序法定的具细原则。我国刑事诉讼制度在立法和司法实践中存在的种种问题最后几乎都可以归结为“程序法定”原则的不彰、程序法定价值的不显。基于此,刑事诉讼法典的制定和运行,贯彻程序法定原则是当务之急。

The Principle of Procedure under Law Revisited

The principle of procedure under law consists of the fundamental basis of modern procedure as the premier, purple principle in criminal procedural law. It has the coordinate status with the "legality for crime and penalty" principle in the criminal substantive law. In the perspective of its content, it includes two parts, legality on the formal side and legitimacy on the substantive side. As a universal and common standard, it should be permeated in all stage of criminal procedure. However, in China, there are many problems in the criminal procedural rules and judicial practice, which are mainly caused by the ignorance of enforcing legal/legitimate process principle. Hereof, we should put sharp emphasize on it in the constituting and performance of the coming criminal procedural code.