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Proving Unlawful Discrimination in Capital Cases: In Quest of an Adequate Standard of Proof
Utrecht Journal of International and European Law Pub Date : 2017-08-31 , DOI: 10.5334/ujiel.356
Gregor Maučec

In spite of some early judicial, political and scholarly discussions, as well as more recent scientific explorations of the topic, problems and concerns with proving discrimination in individual capital cases continue to be among the most debatable issues in human rights and criminal justice. In general, domestic courts (in particular US courts) seem to remain relatively perfunctory and hostile to individual discrimination challenges in capital trials. They normally require capital defendants alleging discrimination to prove something which is virtually impossible to prove. On the other hand, numerous capital defence attorneys, legal commentators and even some of the trial judges themselves lay strictures on the existing judicial approach which almost routinely rejects discrimination claims in capital cases. They contend that appropriate modifications in current legislative arrangements and mechanical adjudication policy and practice are urgent and indispensable for more equitable resolutions and for a truly even-handed criminal justice system. In particular, there are concerns regarding the adequate distribution of the burden of proof between the litigants. Moreover, no clear or uniform approach to this conundrum can be identified in the international jurisprudence. This article seeks to provide some definite answers to open and conceptual questions posed in an attempt to legally define ‘the minimum core content’ of the evidentiary standard – as implicitly contained in the relevant international human rights treaties’ provisions – to be applied in capital sentencing discrimination cases. Additionally, part of this same standard of proof can also qualify as a general principle of international law, particularly in relation to impartial, unbiased and non-discriminatory approaches and decision-making by the judges and jurors involved in complex capital cases.

中文翻译:

在死刑案件中证明非法歧视:寻求适当的证明标准

尽管已经进行了一些早期的司法,政治和学术讨论,并且对该主题进行了较新的科学探索,但在个别死刑案件中证明歧视的问题和关切仍然是人权和刑事司法中最有争议的问题。一般而言,国内法院(特别是美国法院)似乎相对敷衍,并且对死刑审判中的个人歧视挑战持敌对态度。他们通常要求资本被告指控歧视,以证明几乎不可能证明的事情。另一方面,许多死刑辩护律师,法律评论员,甚至一些审判法官本人都对现行司法方法施加了限制,该司法方法几乎通常会拒绝死刑案件中的歧视主张。他们认为,对现行立法安排和机械审判政策和做法进行适当修改,对于更公平的决议和真正公正的刑事司法制度而言,是紧迫而必不可少的。特别是,在诉讼人之间适当分配举证责任的问题令人担忧。此外,在国际判例中无法确定对这个难题的明确或统一的方法。本文旨在为试图合法地定义证据标准的“最低核心内容”(隐含在相关国际人权条约的规定中)提出的一些公开和概念性问题提供一定的答案,这些证据将隐含在死刑判决中歧视案件。另外,
更新日期:2017-08-31
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