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SOVIET COURTS OF LAW

NCJ Number
52958
Author(s)
P PASHKEVICH
Date Published
Unknown
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE STRUCTURE AND PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING COURTS IN THE SOVIET UNION ARE OUTLINED. CIVIL CASES ARE HEARD BY LOCAL JUDICIAL BODIES AND ONLY GRAVE CRIMINAL CASES ARE HANDLED BY REGIONAL SUPERIOR COURTS.
Abstract
A COURT CHAIRMAN, A PROFESSIONAL JUDGE, AND TWO PEOPLE'S ASSESSORS, WHO HOLD EQUAL COURT PRIVILEGES AND POWERS WITH THE JUDGE, PRESIDE OVER TRIALS IN THE SOVIET UNION. JUDGES AND PEOPLE'S ASSESSORS ARE POPULARLY ELECTED AND ARE SUBJECT ONLY TO THE LAW AND NOT TO ANY STATE BODIES OR PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS. CASES IN SOVIET COURTS ARE HEARD IN PUBLIC UNLESS A STATE OR MILITARY SECRET, OR SOME MORAL REASON FOR SECRECY, IS INVOLVED. A DEFENDANT IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY AND HAS THE RIGHT TO KNOW THE CHARGES, HEAR EXPLANATIONS OF THE ACCUSATIONS, PRESENT EVIDENCE, MAKE REQUESTS, READ ALL CASE MATERIALS AT THE END OF PRETRIAL INVESTIGATIONS, RETAIN A COUNSEL, TAKE PART IN THE HEARING OF THE CASE, MAKE DISQUALIFICATIONS, AND COMPLAIN ABOUT ACTIONS AND DECISIONS OF THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER, PROCURATOR, AND COURT. AN OFFENDER HAS THE RIGHT TO AN INTERPRETER, AND TO REFUSE A DEFENSE COUNSEL. (DAG)