The effects of the limited judgments of the Constitutional Court for the incidental decisions in criminal proceedings. Analysis on the basis of the jugment of the Constitutional Court given on 16 July 2018 (case No. K 12/15)

This article discusses the effects of the limited judgments of the Constitutional Court in Poland declaring that the legal provisions not providing for an appeal against the incidental decision issued in criminal proceedings are not in conformity with the Polish Constitution. The analysis is held on the basis of the limited judgment of the Constitutional Court given on 16 July 2018, case No. K 12/15. It is not clear whether the limited judgment could be a basis to apply for a leave to lodge interlocutory appeal in the criminal proceedings. Moreover, it should be clarify whether the limited judgment could be a basis of reopening the incidental proceedings. The author presents the thesis that, firstly, the limited judgment of the Constitutional Court shall be the basis to apply for a leave to lodge interlocutory appeal against the incidental decision and, secondly, the limited judgment should be the basis to reopen the incidental proceedings.