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The structure of military courts in Poland - a short speech
The topic of my short speech concentrates on the structure of military courts in Poland.
At the beginning I’d like to say briefly about history of that institution. For the first time military courts were mentioned in a legal act called Konstytucja brzeska. It was announced almost five hundred years ago, in 1512. Through the centuries, military courts evolved and changed radically. Some reforms took place in the 19th century and between 1918 and 1939. After the Second World War those courts were a part of the communist regime.
Right now we can ask a question about currently situation.
Military courts include provincial courts and garrison courts. They handle cases involving all the crimes committed by soldiers and military employees.
Crimes connected with active military service are enumerated in the third part of the Polish Penal Code form 1997. There are for instance misuse of armament, ammunition and military vehicles, disobedience to orders, desertion etc.
There are 10 garrison courts in Poland. They are located in major Polish cities and they are the courts of first instance.
Military provincial courts are the courts of appeal and they are located in Poznań and Warsaw.
The legal procedure is generally similar to the procedure applied in common courts, but the difference is that every judge is also an officer. In principle, the judge must be at the same or higher military rank than the accused soldier.
Judicial supervision is a duty of Military Chamber of the Supreme Court and the administrative supervision is performed by the Ministry of Justice, exactly its Department of Military Courts.
That is the structure of military courts in Poland. If you want to find more information about military courts and Polish army in general, please visit the official website of the Ministry of Defence or webpage of Garrison Court in Kraków.
Thank you for attention
Ostatnia aktualizacja: 31-03-2005, strona zoptymalizowana dla IE 6.0, 800 x 600
