The scientific-legal doctrine and its influence on the law interpretation processes

Abstract

The proposed paper outlines the main approaches to understanding of the scientific and legal doctrine and its constitutive features, as well as the influence on the law interpretation processes. The authors note that the scientific and legal doctrine not only defines the toolkit and approaches to the interpretation of legal texts, but forms the definitions, categories, conceptions, constructions which are used by legislators in creating regulations and by subjects of law which have to understand the true meaning of norms contained in such legal acts and implement in practice. The main provisions concerning the peculiarities of the doctrinal sources usage while judicial interpretation in different legal families are highlighted. The characteristic features of doctrinal interpretation, forms of its objectification and interconnection with judicial interpretation are determined. Particular attention is paid to the usage of doctrinal provisions in the legal interpretation by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and the Supreme Court. The main forms in which the results of doctrinal interpretation are used in judicial activity are outlined: the functioning of scientific advisory councils, whose members provide their opinions on complex legal issues; involvement of an expert in the field of law to the court proceedings in certain cases provided by the current legislation. It is noted that during the court hearing of the case while the formation of a legal position the possibility to refer to the opinion of authoritative Ukrainian legal scholars is not typical and acceptable for the domestic legal system. It is noted that many authoritative lawyers, scientists with academic degrees and titles, who are also engaged in scientific activity, have worked and still work as judges, especially of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. This practice is especially valuable because a judge is able to apply the results of his/her scientific work in interpreting the law in the process of judicial activity and at the same time to use his/her practical experience in scientific research. The authors of the paper cover issues related to the use of «judicial doctrines» and the solution of «exceptional legal issues», which are relatively new to domestic jurisprudence. The interconnection of these concepts with legal doctrine is determined. It is established that although the current legislation provides for certain ways of using doctrinal provisions and the results of doctrinal interpretation in law enforcement practice, but this process is not developed enough and needs further clarification. Keywords: scientific-legal doctrine, legal interpretation, doctrinal interpretation, judicial doctrines, exceptional legal problem.