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  5. Judicial discretion in legal theory through the prism of the Anglo-Saxon legal system

Almanac of law. Issue 17 (2026), pages 382–390.

DOI: 10.33663/2524-017X-2026-17-382-390

Novitskyi V. V.
Judicial discretion in legal theory through the prism of the Anglo-Saxon legal system

The author of the article has convincingly demonstrated the relevance and legal necessity of researching the chosen topic of scientific interest by clearly dividing it into theoretical and applied parts of the subject study. It should also be noted that, through the legal ideas of Sebastián Reyes Molina, the substantive, terminological, and functional components of judicial discretion were examined. In this context, the author’s vision of the proposed approach is clarified and presented, according to which judicial discretion actually consists of such functional components as: a) the existence of discretionary powers; b) the exercise of discretionary powers. In addition, the concept of legal and judicial discretion proposed by Herbert Hart was analyzed.

The article also examines and presents the author’s view of the law enforcement approaches to judicial discretion proposed by Thomas Zonay. In this case, ten real and applied procedural actions that a judge must perform in the process of making a court decision through the prism of exercising his or her discretionary powers were examined in detail. In this study, the author of the article attempted to objectively highlight the theoretical and practical purpose of judicial discretion as one of the legal mechanisms for protecting and defending human and civil rights, and also offered his own ideas for strengthening the legislative, precedential, and law enforcement functions of the chosen object of scientific research.

Keywords: discretion, judicial discretion, principles of law, legal thinking, court, judge, legal systems of the world, human rights, justice, judicial proceedings.

 References

  1. Sebastian M. Judicial Discretion as a Result of Systemic Indeterminacy. Kanadskyi zhurnal prava ta yurysprudentsii. URL: https://surl.li/owhezo; ). https://doi.org/10.4000/revus.9735 (data zvernennia: 03.12.2025).
  2. Dajovis G. Hartʼs judicial discretion revisited. Revus: Journal for constitutional theory and philosophy of URL: https://journals.openedition.org/revus/9735 ; https://doi.org/10.4000/revus.9735 (data zvernennia: 06.12.2025)
  3. Hart H. L. Discretion. PhilPeople. URL:HARD-20.pdf  (data zvernennia: 08.12.2025).
  4. Rishennia Lvivskoho okruzhnoho administratyvnoho sudu vid 09.2025 u spravi za № 380/5246/25. Yedynyy derzhavnyy reyestr sudovykh rishenʹ. URL: https://youcontrol.com.ua/catalog/court-document/130110219/ (data zvernennia: 10.12.2025). (in Ukr.).
  5. Richard B. S. Judicial Discretion In Common Law Courts. Washington and Lee Law Review at Washington and Lee University School of Law Scholarly Commons. URL: https://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4244&context=wlulr (data zvernennia: 10.12.2025).
  6. Thomas A. Z. Judicial Discretion: 10 Guidelines for Its Use. The National Judicial College. URL: https://judges.org/news-and-info/judicial-news-judicial-discretion-guidelines/#footnotes  (data zvernennia: 12.12.2025).

Дата першого надходження рукопису до видання: 22.01.2026
Дата прийнятого до друку рукопису після рецензування: 09.04.2026
Дата публікації: 30.04.2026

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