Ograniczenia orzekania reformatoryjnego sądu odwoławczego w postępowaniu karnym (rozważania z uwzględnieniem perspektywy konstytucyjnej)

Abstract

The recent (2015) change of the art. 437 para 1 kpk. (Polish Code of Criminal Procedure) is very important in terms of second instance judgments in criminal cases. The new reformatory ruling (correcting the first instance sentence rather than ordering a new trail) is now the rule, not the exception as it was before. Some limitations of such reformatio still exist, mostly if the judgment is affected with a particularly serious infringement. Such change of paradigm has a profound impact on the model of criminal procedure and may be analysed from numerous points of view, the most important being from the constitutional perspective. The paper analyses the constitutional issues of the limitations of possible change (reformatio) of the first instance judgment by the second instance court.