The Nullity Regime in the Criminal Process in Romania

Abstract

Nullities represent procedural sanctions that intervene if the fundamental principles of the criminal process are not respected. What is imperative to mention is the fact that these procedural sanctions operate only judicially, which means that they must be ascertained by the judicial body. Unlike the old regulation, the new criminal procedure code regulates new cases of relative nullity and essentially changes the procedure for the application of nullities, the new legislator wanting to impose a new technique for approaching the drafting of the rules. Thus, we find the rules that regulate the conduct of the criminal process in the code of criminal procedure, Constitution, special laws, CEDO s.a. With regard to the procedural phase in which these rules may be violated, the cited provisions are applicable from the start of the criminal prosecution in rem, throughout the criminal prosecution, the preliminary chamber, in court, appeal, extraordinary appeals, including in the execution of court decisions.