The European Court of Human Rights and its impact on domestic legal systems

Abstract

The European Court of Human Rights was created in order to supervise a rather classical legal instrument. But some peculiarities since its origins and several evolutions led to the establishment of a true “European public order” under its influence. This paper questions the possibility to consider the ECtHR as a “constitutional judge” and analyzes some of the most important changes it has produced in the domestic legal systems – above all in the public institutions – of the States parties to the European convention on human rights.