Croatian Judiciary in the 90ies: from Independence to instituonal Crisis Cover Image

Hrvatsko pravosuđe u devedesetima: od državne nezavisnosti do institucionalne krize
Croatian Judiciary in the 90ies: from Independence to instituonal Crisis

Author(s): Alan Uzelac
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Fakultet političkih znanosti u Zagrebu

Summary/Abstract: The author looks into the role and the position of judges in Croatia following the democratic changes of 1990 and Croatia’s recognition as an independent state of 1991. Three events affected the status and the role of judges: (1) political independence (the formation of a nation-state), (2) state of emergency (war and semi-war), and (3) the changes in the political and the legal system. The author claims that the standard legal/positivist methods, justified in well-ordered and stable societies, are not entirely suitable for transitional societies. Besides the normative models he also provides a brief review of the practice, which deviates from the ideal. The author refers to the major events within the two periods: the wartime years (1991-1995) and the peacetime years (1996-1999). The author talks about the current social and institutional position of the courts and the judges, and points to certain potential sources of troubles for the future reformers.

  • Issue Year: XXXVIII/2001
  • Issue No: 02
  • Page Range: 03-41
  • Page Count: 39
  • Language: Croatian