Mandatory defense in case of justified doubt as to the accused’s sanity: Commentary on the judgment of the Supreme Court of January 28, 2020, in case II KK 22/19 Cover Image

Obrona obligatoryjna w przypadku uzasadnionych wątpliwości co do poczytalności oskarżonego — glosa do wyroku SN z dnia 28 stycznia 2020 roku, II KK 22/19*
Mandatory defense in case of justified doubt as to the accused’s sanity: Commentary on the judgment of the Supreme Court of January 28, 2020, in case II KK 22/19

Author(s): Elżbieta Kaczorowska
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Court case
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego
Keywords: Supreme Court; criminal procedure; right to defense; sanity; mandatory defense counse

Summary/Abstract: The present commentary raises certain issues related to the diminished capacity of the accused. In cases of reasonable doubt regarding the mental capacity of the accused, their access to legal counsel must be ensured. This rule is one of the procedural guarantees and a crucial element of the right to attorney. As such, there remains a pressing issue of establishing what is to be considered as reasonable doubt and whether psychiatric treatment is sufficient to raise reasonable doubt as to the accused’s reduced capacity.

  • Issue Year: 42/2022
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 177-185
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Polish