Constitutional Control in Georgia and the Right to Consider and Adjudicate upon the Constitutionality of the Decisions of Common (Ordinary) Courts

Nino Latsabidze

doi:10.7206/kp.2080-1084.83

Abstract

This article deals with the specialised organ of constitutional review – the Constitutional Court of Georgia and analyses the possibility of granting the Constitutional Court the right to consider and adjudicate upon the decisions of common (ordinary) courts. The Constitutional Court mainly carries out repressive and abstract control. In general, it considers the constitutionality of normative acts. Most of the constitutional claims apply to compliance of the normative acts with the second chapter of the Constitution of Georgia, which guarantees basic rights and the freedom of individuals. Recently, the Public Defender of Georgia launched an initiative to add to the power of the Constitutional Court to consider the constitutionality of the decisions of the courts of last resort. Granting the Constitutional Court this authority is associated with many positive factors. First of all, the Constitutional Court will become the court of last resort in terms of the European Convention on Human Rights and thus, the number of applications against Georgia will be reduced. It will require less financial resources than in case of making application to the European Court of Human rights and the final decision will be adopted in shorter terms. Consequently, the new authority of the Constitutional Court can become a more effective human rights protection mechanism. The new authority may interfere with the common court’s competence; however, finally, the initiative should be positively evaluated.

Highlights

This article deals with the specialised organ of constitutional review – the Constitutional Court of Georgia and analyses the possibility of granting the Constitutional Court the right to consider and adjudicate upon the decisions of common courts
Most of the constitutional claims apply to compliance of the normative acts with the second chapter of the Constitution of Georgia, which guarantees basic rights and the freedom of individuals
The Public Defender of Georgia launched an initiative to add to the power of the Constitutional Court to consider the constitutionality of the decisions of the courts of last resort

Summary

ABSTR AC T

This article deals with the specialised organ of constitutional review – the Constitutional Court of Georgia and analyses the possibility of granting the Constitutional Court the right to consider and adjudicate upon the decisions of common (ordinary) courts. The Constitutional Court mainly carries out repressive and abstract control It considers the constitutionality of normative acts. The Constitutional Court will become the court of last resort in terms of the European Convention on Human Rights and the number of applications against Georgia will be reduced. Trybunał Konstytucyjny dokonuje kontroli głównie następczej i abstrakcyjnej, przede wszystkim rozstrzyga o konstytucyjności aktów normatywnych. Ostatnio Obrońca Publiczny (odpowiednik Rzecznika Praw Obywatelskich) wystąpił z inicjatywą upoważnienia Trybunału Konstytucyjnego do badania konstytucyjności orzeczeń sądów ostatniej instancji. Przede wszystkim Trybunał Konstytucyjny stanie się sądem ostatniej instancji w rozumieniu Europejskiej Konwencji Praw Człowieka, co pociągnie za sobą zmniejszenie liczby wniosków przeciwko Gruzji. W związku z tym nowe uprawnienie Trybunału Konstytucyjnego może stanowić bardziej skuteczny mechanizm ochrony praw człowieka.

THE HISTORY OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OF GEORGIA

The organization and formation rules of the Constitutional Court of Georgia

Authority of the Constitutional Court of Georgia

OF COMMON COURTS