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319/93 AI generated

Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for violating due process rights.

Case Number 319/93
Court / Authority
Jurisdiction Portugal (PT)
Outcome Dismissed
Open official source Machine-readable Markdown (.md)

Legislator summary

AI generated

The Constitutional Court declared Articles 2 and 5(2) of Decree-Law 20-A/90 unconstitutional for violating Article 29(4) of the Constitution. The Ministry of Public Prosecution challenged the lower court's judgment, arguing these laws improperly prevented the application of more favorable new regulations to infractions classified as contraventions. The court ruled that the legislative framework failed to guarantee the right to a fair trial and due process, thereby invalidating the specific provisions in question.

Legislator headnote

AI generated

Art. 29(4) of the Constitution; Art. 2 and 5(2) of Decree-Law 20-A/90: Administrative penalty laws that prevent the application of more favorable regulations without adequate procedural safeguards violate the constitutional right to a fair trial and due process.

Keywords

AI generated
constitutional due process administrative penalty laws fair trial rights procedural safeguards Constitutional Court ruling

Cited Legislation

AI generated
Art. 29(4) of the Constitution
Art. 2 of Decree-Law 20-A/90
Art. 5(2) of Decree-Law 20-A/90
AI generated
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Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.
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Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.
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Portuguese Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.
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Portuguese Constitutional Court declares administrative penalty laws unconstitutional for blocking more favorable new laws.

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Full text

ACÓRDÃO N

ACÓRDÃO N.º 757/93

Processo n.º 319/93

2.ª Secção

Relator: Conselheiro Sousa e Brito

Acordam na 2.ª Secção do Tribunal Constitucional:

Nestes autos, em que é recorrente o MINISTÉRIO PÚBLICO e recorrido A. -

- pelos fundamentos do acórdão nº 227/92, publicado no Diário da República, II Série, de 12 de Setembro de 1992, para os quais aqui se remete,

- decide-se:

a) Julgar inconstitucionais - por violação do artigo 29º, nº 4, da Constituição - os artigos 2º e 5º, nº 2, do Decreto-Lei nº 20-A/90, de 15 de Janeiro, interpretados no sentido de visarem impedir a aplicação da nova lai, ainda que mais fa­vorável, às infracções que o Regime Jurídico, aprovado pelo citado decreto-lei, desgraduou em contra-ordenações;

b) em consequência, negar provimento ao recurso e confirmar o acórdão recorrido quanto ao julgamento da questão de constitucionalidade.

Lisboa, 25 de Novembro de 1993

José de Sousa e Brito

Luís Nunes de Almeida

Guilherme da Fonseca

Bravo Serra (vencido, de harmonia com a declaração de voto que apus ao Acórdão n.º 227/92)

José Manuel Cardoso da Costa