Bufford Defining the Rule of Law
Bufford Defining the Rule of Law
Bufford Defining the Rule of Law
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To protect <strong>the</strong> substantive requirements <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> rule <strong>of</strong> law, certain procedural<br />
requirements must be established, including <strong>the</strong> right to an effective remedy by<br />
competent domestic tribunals for acts violating a society’s fundamental freedoms. 47 The<br />
rule <strong>of</strong> law demands fairness in both <strong>the</strong> criminal and civil law context.<br />
1. Fairness in Criminal Procedures<br />
The rule <strong>of</strong> law plays a critical role in ensuring <strong>the</strong> fair treatment <strong>of</strong> prisoners<br />
and those accused <strong>of</strong> crimes. For example, members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public, whe<strong>the</strong>r accused <strong>of</strong> a<br />
crime or not, must be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures. A government<br />
will quickly lose <strong>the</strong> respect <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public if it subjects persons to unreasonable searches<br />
<strong>of</strong> homes or <strong>the</strong> unreasonable seizure <strong>of</strong> personal property.<br />
a. Rights <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Accused<br />
The rule <strong>of</strong> law also imposes special requirements regarding how those accused <strong>of</strong><br />
crimes may be treated. For instance, it requires that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary<br />
arrest, detention or exile; 48 that anyone charged with a crime has a right to a fair and<br />
public hearing by an impartial tribunal; 49 that a person is presumed innocent until proven<br />
guilty, 50 and that a person has a full and fair opportunity to present a defense to criminal<br />
charges. 51<br />
47 See Universal Declaration, supra note 9, art. 8; Fundamental Rights <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> EU, supra note 12,<br />
art. 47; American Declaration, supra note 14, art. 26.<br />
48 See Universal Declaration, supra note 9, art 9; Civil and Political Rights, supra note 11, art. 9;<br />
American Convention, supra note 15, art. 7(3); African Charter, supra note 15, art. 6; Asian<br />
Charter, supra note 16, art. 3.6, 14.3 (??); American Declaration, supra note 14, art. 25.<br />
49 See Universal Declaration, supra note 9, art. 10; Civil and Political Rights, supra note 11, art.<br />
2(3)(b), 14(1); Fundamental Rights <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> EU, supra note 12, art. 47; American Convention, supra<br />
note 15, art. 1, 7(4); Asian Charter, supra note 16, art. 3.7 (??); American Declaration, supra note<br />
14, art. 18.<br />
50 See Universal Declaration, supra note 9, art. 11(1); First United Nations Congress on <strong>the</strong><br />
Prevention <strong>of</strong> Crime and <strong>the</strong> Treatment <strong>of</strong> Offenders, Aug. 30, 1955, United Nations Standard<br />
Minimum <strong>Rule</strong>s for <strong>the</strong> Treatment <strong>of</strong> Prisoners, art. 84(2), U.N. Doc A/CONF/611, annex I<br />
[hereinafter Treatment <strong>of</strong> Prisoners]; Body <strong>of</strong> Principles for <strong>the</strong> Protection <strong>of</strong> All Persons under<br />
Any Form <strong>of</strong> Detention or Imprisonment, G.A. Res. 43/173, principle 37, (Dec. 9, 1998)<br />
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