Participation of citizens in the justice system – a criminal procedural perspective

The subject of this article is an analysis of citizen participation in the administration of justice from a criminal-procedural perspective. The author discusses the entitlements of citizens arising from generally applicable laws. The entitlements arising from the two guiding principles of criminal trial – audience and participation – are analysed. He then moves on to a detailed discussion of institutions specific to criminal procedure – the participation of the public representative and jurors. The article concludes with a summary and de lege ferenda conclusions indicating potential directions of changes that may strengthen citizen participation in the administration of justice for the benefit of the functioning of a democratic state of law.