LIMITATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF OPENNESS IN POLISH JUDICIAL-ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THE STANDARDS OF A FAIR HEARING: THE REASONS FOR POSSIBLE COMPLAINTS BROUGHT BEFORE THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Abstract

Along with the development of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the Polish legislator, by introducing restrictions on the principle of openness in administrative court proceedings, finally decided to exclude the possibility of conducting hearings in court buildings. Currently, it is only possible to proceed in closed session or in the form of a remote hearing – i.e. with the use of technical devices enabling simultaneous direct transmission of vision and sound. The aim of the article is to assess the “Covid regulations” introduced into the Polish legal system, limiting the right of the parties to open hearing of a case pending before administrative courts in terms of the regulations on the right to a fair trial contained in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.