Constitutional Court rejects challenge to rules governing low-value claims: ruling does not affect the right to access justice or judicial independence
The Constitutional Court ruled yesterday to reject a petition challenging the regulation of procedures for low-value claims, affirming that the legislative framework governing such claims does not undermine the right to access justice, violate the principle of equality, or compromise judicial independence.
The Court clarified that the exemption of courts from stating the reasons for their judgments in specific cases of low-value claims, provided the conditions set by law are met, does not diminish the right to access justice. Rather, it falls within the legislator’s discretionary power to organize judicial procedures in a manner commensurate with the nature of these claims.
The Court further explained that rendering judgments in low-value claims final and non-appealable, when the legal conditions are satisfied, does not infringe upon the judge’s jurisdiction or independence, nor does it relieve the judge from the duty to examine the case, form their conviction, and adjudicate in accordance with the law.
The Court emphasized that the principle of equality before the law does not require identical treatment of all cases, but rather equal treatment of similar legal positions. It noted that the distinct procedures applicable to low-value claims, as opposed to other cases, are based on the nature of these claims and the legislator’s objective of simplifying judicial procedures and expediting their resolution.
The Court also determined that the challenged regulation does not affect judicial independence, as judges remain free to form their convictions and adjudicate disputes before them without interference or influence from any party, within the limits prescribed by law.
The Court concluded that the challenged provision does not constitute a deprivation of the right to access justice, a violation of the principle of equality, or an infringement on judicial independence. Instead, it is limited to regulating the procedures for a specific category of claims, provided the legal conditions are met.
