Dr. Péter DARÁK, President of the Curia of Hungary convoked the Plenary Session of Curia justices on the 10th of September 2012. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for 13 new Curia justices to introduce themselves to their peers.
For the first time in its history, the Plenary Session heard reports, submitted by heads of panels, from all three departments in the field of criminal, civil and administrative law. The idea of reporting was supported by the President of the Curia who sought to promote deeper co-operation between Curia justices specialised in distinct fields of law by ensuring that justices get an overall look over the work of different departments.
The heads of panels pointed out in a general manner that the rapid increase in caseloads and the staff-related changes had resulted in a stronger emphasis on administering justice in concrete cases and a lesser attention paid to theoretical activities. At the same time, numerous theoretical issues had to be addressed, particularly due to recent legislative reforms and practice-related problems. In all three departments the issue of the application of legal rules no longer in force was raised, in addition, in criminal cases decisions on the retroactive application of new criminal law favourable to the accused were to be rendered.
The heads of panels also reported that certain types of cases had required the interpretation and application of legal rules from several branches of law.
The President of the Curia and the heads of departments agreed that interdepartmental communication should be strengthened in order to ensure the proficient and timely treatment of cases involving two or more fields of law.
Budapest, the tenth of September 2012
Press Office of the Curia of Hungary