Укр Eng
+380 (44) 278-80-24
“Almanac of Law”
  1. Home
  2.  ⇒ 
  3. Almanac of law. Issue 17 (2026)
  4.  ⇒ 
  5. The principle of justice: its place and role in the system of basic principles of law

Almanac of law. Issue 17 (2026), pages 589–595.

DOI: 10.33663/2524-017X-2026-17-589-595

Kostenok A. M.
The principle of justice: its place and role in the system of basic principles of law

The article carries out a theoretical and legal analysis of the principle of justice as a basic value basis of law and determines its place and role in the system of basic principles, primarily in relation to the principle of the rule of law. It is emphasized that justice in law is not reduced to moral intuition or political expediency, but functions as a normative criterion that directs norm-making and sets material guidelines for evaluating legal regulations. In this context, the correlation between justice and the quality of the law is substantiated: justice is the value basis of norm-making, while the quality of the law ensures its institutional implementation through a set of requirements that guarantee the appropriate level of normative regulation.

It is shown that the “quality of the law” is complex and covers not only formal and procedural aspects (due competence, compliance with the procedure, systematicity), but also material standards related to the rule of law. The importance of legal certainty as a key guarantee of predictability of legal regulation and law enforcement is revealed: clarity and accessibility of norms, unambiguous terminology, consistency of legal provisions, stability of legislation, as well as restrictions on excessive discretion of public authorities. It is emphasized that legal certainty, combined with the requirements of proportionality and non-discrimination, forms a “framework” of criteria through which justice acquires practical measurability in the process of evaluating regulatory acts.

Special attention is paid to the approaches of modern legal doctrine to assessing the quality of legislation and to determining the content of justice in law, taking into account European standards of the rule of law. It is proved that a high-quality law should ensure a balance between public interest and human rights, minimize the risks of arbitrary interference and guarantee the equality of the legal status of subjects. As a result, the conclusion is formulated that justice and the quality of the law are in a complementary relationship: the first determines the material horizon of legal regulation, the second ensures its formal and institutional implementation and verifiability. The directions of further research related to the development of a system of criteria for assessing the quality of legislation and methods for their application in the light of European integration processes and standards of the rule of law are outlined.

Keywords: justice, quality of law, rule of law, legal certainty, proportionality, rule-making, discretion, human rights.

 References

  1. Bratasiuk M. H., Rosoliak O. V. Problema yakisnoho vymiru pravovoi normotvorchosti. Aktualni problemy prava. Vyp. 2 (84). S. 58–67. DOI: 10.34059/apl.84.058 (in Ukr.).
  2. Bernaziuk Ya. Katehoriia «iakist zakonu» yak skladova pryntsypu verkhovenstva prava ta harantiia zastosuvannia sudom naibilsh spryiatlyvoho dlia osoby tlumachennia 2020. 22 zhovtnia. URL: https://supreme.court.gov.ua/supreme/pres-centr/zmi/1011199 (in Ukr.).
  3. Kravchuk Zmist pryntsypu pravovoi vyznachenosti yak suttievoho elementu verkhovenstva prava. Aktualni problemy prava. 2019. Vyp. 4 (52). S. 134–148. DOI: 10.34059/apl.52.134 (in Ukr.).
  4. Kubko Ye. B. Pravotvorchist, yurydychna praktyka ta pravova nevyznachenist: metodolohichni aspekty vzaiemozviazku. Pravova derzhava. Vyp. 35. S. 108–120. DOI: 10.33663/0869-2491-2024-35-108-120. URL: https://pravova-derzhava.org/en/pravova-derjava-issue-35-2024-108 (in Ukr.).
  5. Dudchenko O. Yu. Zabezpechennia verkhovenstva prava v konteksti yevrointehratsii Ukrainy: problemy ta realizatsiia v kryminalnomu pravosuddi. Teoriia i praktyka pravoznavstva. Vyp. 1 (27). S. 128–144. DOI: 10.21564 /2225-6555.2025.27.326911. URL: https://tlaw.nlu.edu.ua/article/view/326911 (in Ukr.).
  6. Holovko M. Pryntsyp spravedlyvosti v zakonodavstvi voiennoho chasu: teoretyko-pravovyi analiz. Almanakh prava. 2023. Vyp. 14. S. 48–53. DOI: 10.33663/2524-017X-2023-14-48-53. URL: https://almanahprava.org/almanac-of-law-14/ (in Ukr.).
  7. Kyrychenko V. Ye. Normotvorchist, urehulovana pravom, v Ukraini (anhl. movoiu). Visnyk Kharkivskoho natsionalnoho universytetu vnutrishnikh sprav. T. 109, № 2. S. 24–35. DOI: 10.32631/v.2025.2.02. URL: https://visnyk.univd.edu.ua/index.php/VNUAF/article/view/881 (in Engl.).
  8. Fuller L. L. The Morality of Law. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1964. 202 p. (in Ukr.). 
  9. Rawls J. A Theory of Justice. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1971. 607 p. ISBN 0674000780. URL: https://giuseppecapograssi.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/rawls99.pdf  (in Ukr.). 
  10. Skrypnyk A. , Titko I. A. Spivmirnist vtruchannia i balans publichnykh ta pryvatnykh interesiv pid chas nehlasnoho zbyrannia dokaziv u kryminalnomu provadzhenni. Teoriia i praktyka pravoznavstva. 2024. Vyp. 2 (26). S. 161–181. DOI: 10.21564/2225-6555.2024.26.313485 (in Ukr.).

    Дата першого надходження рукопису до видання: 28.02.2026
    Дата прийнятого до друку рукопису після рецензування: 09.04.2026
    Дата публікації: 30.04.2026

    Back to contents