Information Note on the Court’s case-law No.
February 1993
Padovani v. Italy - 13396/87
Judgment 26.2.1993
Article 6
Criminal proceedings
Article 6-1
Impartial tribunal
Alleged lack of impartiality on the part of magistrate (pretore) within immediate criminal proceedings (giudizio direttissimo): no violation
[This summary is extracted from the Court’s official reports (Series A or Reports of Judgments and Decisions). Its formatting and structure may therefore differ from the Case-Law Information Note summaries.]
I.GOVERNMENT’S PRELIMINARY OBJECTION
Failure to exhaust domestic remedies – basis of the objection the fact that applicant did not appeal against pretore’s decision and did not avail himself of the possibility of requesting the latter to refer the matter to the constitutional Court: first argument unfounded as the magistrate had acted in accordance with the legislation in force; second argument not put forward before the Commission, Government therefore estopped from relying thereon, and in any event argument unfounded as individuals not entitled to apply directly to the Constitutional Court.
Conclusion: objection dismissed (unanimously).
II.ARTICLE 6 § 1 OF THE CONVENTION
Impartiality of the magistrate: applicant’s fears not objectively justified. The magistrate founded his decision to order the applicant’s arrest essentially on the latter’s own statements. In addition, he was following specific rules applicable to flagrante delicto cases within his jurisdiction.
Conclusion: no violation (unanimously).
© Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights
This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.
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