The right to a fair administrative trial in the light of the standards arising from the Article 45 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland

The Article 45 of the Polish Constitution establishes the right to a fair trial. It means that everyone shall have the right to a fair and public hearing of his case, without undue delay, before a competent, impartial and independent court. The right to a fair administrative trial has special character because it is used for protection different human right and obligations that arise from public law (especially administrative and tax law). Implementation of this rules in administrative courts differs from realizing the right in civil and criminal courts. In administrative cases the organ of public administration violates law and because of this, it is one of the parts of the court trial. The administrative courts investigate only legality of act of public administration. Courts are able to annul invalid acts without changing its essence. So administrative courts do not directly effects on individuals rights, freedoms and obligations. Judges are bind by the principle of objective (material) truth, so they are suppose to examine each elements of a case especially facts and related legal norms. The author of the article describes elements and characteristics of the right to a fair administrative trial. There is a description of the personal and objective scope of the right as well.

Constitutional legal formula to “competent court”  and the control over the activities of the public administration  exercised by the administrative courts

The purpose of this publication was to present – by recalling the writings and the jurisdiction of The Constitutional Tribunal – the meaning of the constitutional term “competent court” and then to demonstrate whether the valid administrative jurisdiction procedure provides an individual with the right to the “competent court” in the cases from the scope of the control over the activities of the public administration exercised by the administrative courts. In the light of the conducted analysis, it may be stated that the valid model of the administrative jurisdiction; which essence is to eliminate from the conduct of legal transactions these acts and activities of the public administration that are against the law; is in accordance with the constitutional assumptions of the law to the competent court, and by which it enacts the right for the individual to the legal protection of their rights.

Participation of the Children’s Ombudsman in Administrative Court Proceedings

The publication aims at presenting the problem of participation of the Children’s Ombudsman in administrative court proceedings, based on the analysis of case law available in the Administrative Courts Case Law Database. Referenced judicial decisions demonstrate that while actions taken by the Children’s Ombudsman in the administrative court proceedings focus on the necessity of protecting the rights of the youngest ones, the Ombudsman’s activity is limited by the nature of the judicial activity of administrative courts within the polish legal framework and by their subject-matter jurisdiction.