Abstract
The subject of this study are the argumentation strategies applied by the Polish and German apex courts competent in criminal matters, namely the Supreme Court and the Federal Court of Justice, respectively. The investigation encompasses a total of 200 rulings issued by the criminal panels of these bodies. Particular focus was put on examining which arguments both courts apply to solve interpretation problems, and secondly, how these courts systematize the interpretation process. Methodologically, the examination utilizes, inter alia, the principles of qualitative research, without neglecting the legal dogmatic perspective. A crucial theoretical foundation underlying this study is the distinction between formalistic and substantive legal cultures. The examination reveals that neither the Polish nor the German legal culture is purely formalistic or value-oriented. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court of Poland shows greater affinity for formalistic arguments, whereas the substantive interpretation methods are more widespread in the judicature of the German Federal Court of Justice. In particular, the Polish Court prefers the linguistic interpretation, whereas the German Court favours the purposive approach.
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Notes
A complete analysis can be found in [19].
Polish Law on the Supreme Court of 23.11.2002 Dz. U. of 2002, item 240. The details on the publishing are set out by the decree of the First President of the Supreme Court in accordance with a decision of the Supreme Court Judges’ Assembly from 01.12.2003 on the rules of procedure of the Supreme Court.
If a panel wishes to deviate from the decision of another panel, it will first enquire whether this panel is adhering to its interpretation of the law (Sect. 132 para. 2 of the Judicial Systems Act—Gerichtsverfassungsgesetz, officially abbreviated as GVG). If this is the case, it will submit the question of law to the Grand Panel for a decision (Sect. 132 para. 3 sentence 1 GVG). Furthermore, the adjudicating panel may submit an issue of fundamental importance to the Grand Panel for a decision if it considers the submission essential for the development of the law, or for ensuring the uniform application of the law (Sect. 132 para. 4 GVG).
Decision of the Federal Court of Justice of 14.12.2004, 4 StR 255/04, BGHSt 49, 376, 378, cf. [19, p. 161]: “Due to ambiguously formulated wording, the question can be answered only based on the history of the law’s development and in consideration of the purpose of the provision”; decision of the Federal Court of Justice of 15.12.2005, 3 StR 281/04, BGHSt 50, 318, 326–327, cf. [19, pp. 162–163]: “Still, the scope of Sect. 54 (…) cannot be determined reliably on the basis of pure wording. The norm has rather to be interpreted decisively also on the basis of its purpose (…)”; and finally decision of the Federal Court of Justice of 9.5.2006, 5 StR 453/05, BGHSt 51, 45, 49, cf. [19, p. 163]: “The wording of Sect. 11 (…) allows the understanding of elected municipal officials as (…). Still, against this understanding speak historical, systematic and teleological arguments”.
More on that [19, p. 160].
See all relevant sections of the 22 decisions in [19, pp. 164–171].
See, as the most prominent example in the research corpus, the decision of the Supreme Court of 26.04.2007, I KZP 6/07, OSNKW 2007, item 37—on that [19, pp. 165–166].
Decision of the Supreme Court of 21.03.2007, I KZP 39/06, OSNKW 2007, item 30, decision of the Supreme Court of 26.04.2007, I KZP 6/07, OSNKW 2007, item 37, decision of the Supreme Court of 29.08.2007, I KZP 19/07, OSNKW 2007, item 60, decision of the Supreme Court of 25.10.2007, I KZP 32/07, OSNKW 2007, item 89, see on that [19, p. 173].
See more on that [19, pp. 120, 109–113].
See more on that [19, p. 119].
E.g. decision of the Supreme Court of 04.07.2007, V KK 419/06, OSNKW 2007, item 74, cf. [19, pp. 222–223].
See the excerpts of 5 decisions in [19, pp. 177–180].
Decision of the Supreme Court of 26.04.2007, I KZP 7/07, OSNKW 2007, item 38, cf. [19, p. 179].
Decision of the Supreme Court of 20.09.2007, I KZP 28/07, OSNKW 2007, item 70.
Decision of the Supreme Court of 20.09.2007, I KZP 28/07, OSNKW 2007, item 70.
Decision of the Supreme Court of 20.09.2007, I KZP 28/07, OSNKW 2007, item 70.
Decision of the Federal Court of Justice of 20.11.2004, 4 StR 150/03, BGHSt 49, 8, 14.
Decision of the Federal Court of Justice of 03.03.2004, 2 StR 109/03, BGHSt 49, 93, 103.
See a more detailed presentation in [19, pp. 181–183].
See a more detailed presentation in [19, pp. 183–184].
See on that [19, pp. 184–185].
An overview in [19, pp. 389–396].
See more on that in [19, pp. 247–248].
See also [5, p. 20 ff.].
An increasing trend was also noticed by [28, pp. 91 ff., 103].
See the write-up of the analysis in every decision in [19, pp. 249–262].
Decision of the Supreme Court of 20.09.2007, I KZP 30/07, OSNKW 2007, item 79, see [19, p. 260].
Decision of the Supreme Court of 21.03.2007, I KZP 39/06, OSNKW 2007, item 30.
Decision of the Supreme Court of 02.02.2007, WA 1/07, OSNKW 2007, item 49, cf. [19, pp. 260–261].
See for an overview of all the constitutional topoi and their frequency [19, pp. 309–310].
See more on that [19, pp. 289–290].
See more on that [19, p. 290].
0 references in 25 decisions; 1 reference in 15 decisions; 2 references in 14 decisions; 3 references in 16 decisions, cf. [19, pp. 272–273].
See more on that [19, p. 274].
See [19, pp. 274–275] with examples of descriptions in fn. 411.
See the list of all remarks in [19, p. 276].
E.g. decision of the Federal Court of Justice of 02.12.2003, 1 StR 102/03, BGHSt 49, 29, 30 f.; decision of the Federal Court of Justice of 16.06.2005, 3 StR 492/04, BGHSt 50, 160, 161 f.—see the analysis of these and more selected decisions in [19, pp. 277–284].
See also [19, p. 277].
The Criminal Codes were adopted in 1932, 1969, and 1997; the Codes of Criminal Procedure in 1928, 1969, and 1997.
See as a prime example decision of the Federal Court of Justice of 22.02.2005, KRB 28/04, BGHSt 50, 30, 38 f., cf. [19, pp. 350–352].
E.g. decision of the Federal Court of Justice of 09.11.2005, 4 StR 483/05, BGHSt 50, 275, 278 f., cf. [19, pp. 383–384].
Decision of the Federal Court of Justice of 16.06.2005, 3 StR 492/04, BGHSt 50, 160, 165 f., cf. [19, p. 384].
Decision of the Constitutional Tribunal of 07.03.1995, W 9/94, OTK 1995, item 20; decision of the Constitutional Tribunal of 26.03.1996, W 12/95, OTK 1996, item 16.
See more on that [19, pp. 123–126].
See more on that [19, pp. 125–126].
The leading case being decision of the Federal Constitutional Court of 14.02.1973, 1 BvR 112/65, BVerfGE 34, 269, 286 ff. (Soraya), see more on that [19, pp. 126–128].
Decision of the Federal Court of Justice of 03.03.2005, GSSt 1/04, BGHSt 50, 40, analysed in [19, pp. 413–421].
See also generally [20, p. 251].
Decision of the Supreme Court of 06.12.2006, III KK 181/06, OSNKW 2007, item 16.
Decision of the Federal Court of Justice of 01.07.2005, 2 StR 9/05, BGHSt 50, 180.
See on that [19, p. 160].
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Małolepszy, M., Głuchowski, M. Argumentation and Legal Interpretation in the Criminal Decisions of the Polish Supreme Court and the German Federal Court of Justice: A Comparative View. Int J Semiot Law 35, 1797–1815 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11196-021-09843-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11196-021-09843-9