THE CONCEPT OF JUSTICE IN THE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS OF UKRAINE
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Abstract
The article is devoted to the definition of the concept of justice and its essential characteristics in criminal proceedings in Ukraine. Based on an analysis of scholarly research, it is concluded that justice in criminal proceedings constitutes the law-application activity of a court, carried out in a procedural form established by law, in compliance with the principles of criminal proceedings, and aimed at resolving the accusation on the merits and adopting a lawful, well-reasoned, and fair judicial decision. Justice is examined in correlation with the institutional and procedural elements of the right to a fair trial. It is determined that the institutional elements of the right to a fair trial ensuring the administration of justice include the principles of a tribunal established by law, judicial independence, impartiality, and access to justice. The procedural elements of the right to a fair trial, which ensure the implementation of fairness and provide guarantees of individual rights and the proper administration of justice, are identified as follows: reasonable time for trial, equality of arms, the right to legal assistance, publicity of of the trial, and the reasoned nature and binding force of judicial decisions. It is substantiated that a specific feature of the concept of justice is the interconnection of its formal and substantive essential characteristics, which allows it to be considered both as an activity and as a goal. The administration of justice i presupposes both a fair judicial process and a fair outcome. Justice, as the goal of judicial activity, is equivalent to fairness. It is established that the purpose of justice in criminal proceedings is realized through the adoption of a lawful, well-reasoned, motivated, and fair judicial decision that resolves a socio-legal conflict and ensures the protection of the rights, freedoms, and interests of individuals.
How to Cite
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justice, essential characteristics of justice, criminal proceedings, law-application activity of the court, procedural form, principles of criminal proceedings.
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