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  5. Legality of the court composition as an element of a fair trial in the court of first instance in criminal proceedings

Almanac of law. Issue 16 (2025), pages 366–370.

DOI: 10.33663/2524-017X-2025-16-366-370

Bilinskyi B. P.
Legality of the court composition as an element of a fair trial in the court of first instance in criminal proceedings

 This article addresses the issue of effective enforcement of investment arbitration awards in disputes  This article delves deeper into the critical issue of the legality of the composition of the court as a fundamental aspect of the right to a fair trial in the first instance of criminal proceedings. Such breaches can lead to the nullification of court decisions due to the infringement of the right to be tried by a legally constituted court. It highlights the procedural safeguards outlined in the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and evaluates their alignment with international legal standards, particularly the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The article underscores that the composition of the court is a cornerstone of judicial independence and impartiality, which are essential for ensuring public confidence in the justice system. A key focus is on the automated case distribution system, which is intended to prevent external interference and ensure the random assignment of judges. Violations of this procedure — such as manual interference in case allocation, arbitrary assignment of judges, or failure to consider legitimate challenges against a judge — are identified as major threats to judicial fairness. The article examines several prominent cases where deviations from the prescribed procedures resulted in successful appeals and reversals of judgments. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of enhancing legal frameworks to monitor and enforce the legality of the court’s composition. One significant recommendation is the introduction of a specialized appellate mechanism that would allow for the immediate and independent review of decisions to refuse a judge’s disqualification. This proposal aligns with the need to strengthen judicial accountability while preserving judicial autonomy. The main conclusions drawn in this work are based on the analysis of scientific provisions of the criminal procedure doctrine, provisions of the current legislation in the field of criminal procedure law, court practice and other factors affecting legal relations. The article also advocates for more transparent oversight mechanisms, such as periodic audits of the automated case distribution system and public access to information regarding the formation of judicial panels. These measures aim to prevent abuses of power and foster greater public trust in the judiciary. By analyzing both domestic legal provisions and international human rights obligations, the article proposes practical reforms to align Ukraine’s legal practices with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. These reforms would safeguard the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the judiciary, thereby reinforcing the rule of law and the fundamental right to a fair trial.

Key words: legitimacy of the court, criminal proceedings, fair trial, recusal of a judge, automated distribution of cases, independence of the court, European Court of Human Rights, Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, impartiality

References

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