Protection of the right to trial within a reasonable time in the legal system of Serbia

Abstract

One of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Constitution of Serbia is entitled to trial within a reasonable time, as a component of the right to a fair trial. The protection of this right in Serbia's legal system has gradually evolved from the position that there is no effective remedy for his protection, until the adoption of a special law which protects this right in an integrated and comprehensive manner. In this article analyzed the legislative instruments which on the one hand guarantee, and on the other hand provide judicial protection of the right to trial within a reasonable time. Especially critically analyzed the role of the Constitutional Court in proceedings on constitutional appeals, the role of the regular courts and finally the provisions of the new Law on the Protection of the right to trial within a reasonable time, with a comparative analysis in relation to the relevant law of the European Court of Human Rights.

Jedno od osnovnih prava garantovanih Evropskom konvencijom o ljudskim pravima i osnovnim slobodama i Ustavom Srbije je pravo na suđenje u razumom roku, kao komponenta prava na pravično suđenje. Zaštita ovog prava u pravnom sistemu Srbije postepeno je evoluirala, od stava da ne postoji delotvorno pravno sredstvo za njegovu zaštitu, do donošenja posebnog zakona koji ovo pravo integralno i na sveobuhvatan način štiti. U ovom radu analizirani su legislativni instrumenti koji sa jedne strane garantuju, a sa druge strane pružaju sudsku zaštitu prava na suđenje u razumnom roku. Detaljnije su kritički analizirani uloga Ustavnog suda u postupcima po ustavnim žalbama, uloga redovnih sudova i na kraju odredbe novog Zakona o zaštiti prava na suđenje u razumnom roku, uz komparativnu analizu u odnosu na relevantnu praksu Evropskog suda za ljudska prava.