Equipa

Nota legal

The Constitutional Court shifts its position on the accused’s right to the last word

03/03/2021

In this Information Briefing, we analyse the recent judgment of the Constitutional Court, in plenary session, which was issued on 18 February 2021.

In this judgment, the Tribual Constitucional  amends the criteria established in Judgment 258/2007, of 18 December, concerning an accused’s right to the last word and the guarantees that should accompany its use.

In the case that is the subject of the judgment of 18 February, after the closing arguments, the Magistrate-Judge proceeded to deliver her judgment in voce. During this judgment, the accused attempted to make a statement but was reprimanded by the judge, who ordered him to remain silent and continued with the summary of her decision, bringing the trial to a close at the end of her remarks.

The entire content of the Information Briefing can be found in the PDF.