Prawo do obrony obwinionego o popełnienie wykroczenia z perspektywy art. 42 ust. 2 Konstytucji RP

Abstract

The text presents the problem of autonomy of proceedings in misdemeanour cases, with particular emphasis on the situation of the accused and their right to defence. The author puts forward a thesis concerning the necessity to recognise that the provision of Art. 42 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland should be applied to the accused, even though this provision refers to guarantees of the right to defence for persons appearing in criminal proceedings, and not literally for persons against whom proceedings in misdemeanour cases are conducted. The extension of constitutional guarantees to defendants is important for the defendants themselves, but also for the coherence of the justice system and court procedures, as only in this way does the constitutional benchmark of a fair trial become feasible.