Judgment No. 49480 of 2023: the Legitimacy of the Defender in the Appeal to the Court of Cassation

The judgment No. 49480 of October 31, 2023, issued by the Court of Cassation, represents an important ruling regarding the legitimacy of the defender in the context of appeals to the Court of Cassation. This decision is crucial for understanding how and when a defender can act in the name and on behalf of the accused, particularly in the context of waiving the appeal.

Context and Reasoning of the Judgment

The case in question involves E. E., who was in a situation of appealing a decision from the Court of Liberty of Naples. The Court rejected the waiver of the appeal to the Court of Cassation presented by the defender, who was not equipped with a special power of attorney. The Court clarified that the waiver, not constituting an exercise of the right to defense, requires a clear and unequivocal manifestation of the will of the interested party, whether expressed personally or through a special attorney.

The appeal to the Court of Cassation - Legitimacy of the defender without a special power of attorney - Exclusion - Reasons. The act of waiving the appeal to the Court of Cassation is ineffective if not signed by the accused but solely by the defender lacking a special power of attorney, since the waiver, not constituting an exercise of the right to defense, requires the unequivocal manifestation of the will of the interested party, expressed personally or through a special attorney.

Legal Implications of the Ruling

This judgment fits within a well-defined regulatory framework established by the New Code of Criminal Procedure, particularly Articles 122 and 589, which govern the modalities for exercising the right to defense and the forms of legal representation. The Court, recalling previous jurisprudence, reiterated that the representation of the defender must be supported by a special power of attorney, without which any act, including that of waiver, is ineffective.

  • Necessity of a special power of attorney for the validity of procedural acts.
  • Importance of the manifestation of will of the interested party.
  • Recognition of the right to defense as essential in criminal proceedings.

Conclusions

Judgment No. 49480 of 2023 offers an important lesson on the value of the right to defense and the necessity of adhering to legal procedures to ensure its effectiveness. In a complex legal context such as the Italian one, it is essential that all actors in the process are aware of the rules governing their legitimacy and the modalities for exercising rights. The protection of the rights of the accused cannot disregard a correct interpretation and application of the existing regulations, and the judgment of the Court of Cassation represents a significant step in this direction.

Bianucci Law Firm