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Judgment No. 15728 of 2023: Ex Officio Detection of the Violation of the Principle of Legality of the Penalty

The recent judgment No. 15728 of January 11, 2023, filed on April 13, 2023, offers important reflections on the principle of legality of the penalty and its application by the appellate judge. In particular, the Court established that the violation of this principle must be detected ex officio, even if it arises from a subsequent legislative reform after the contested sentence.

The Context of the Judgment

In this specific case, the appellate judge had imposed a prison sentence for the crime of personal injury. However, following the legislative change introduced by Legislative Decree No. 150 of October 10, 2022, the crime had become prosecutable by complaint, thus no longer under the jurisdiction of the appellate judge, but of the justice of the peace. This reform made it evident that a review of the decision was necessary, as the penal treatment had been modified in a way favorable to the defendant.

Knowledge of the appellate judge - Violation of the principle of legality of the penalty due to legislative reform - Ex officio detection - Existence - Case law. The violation of the principle of legality of the penalty must be detected ex officio by the appellate judge even when it depends on a legislative reform that, occurring after the contested sentence, has modified the penal treatment in a way favorable to the defendant. (Case in which the Court annulled the decision whereby the appellate judge had imposed a prison sentence for the crime of personal injury, which had become prosecutable by complaint following the legislative change introduced by Legislative Decree No. 150 of October 10, 2022, and, therefore, under the jurisdiction of the justice of the peace pursuant to Article 4, paragraph 1, letter a), Legislative Decree No. 274 of August 28, 2000, an authority that is precluded from imposing custodial penalties).

Implications of the Decision

The Court, recognizing the importance of the principle of legality, clarified that even legislative changes occurring after the first instance judgment must be considered in the appeal process. This means that a judge cannot merely confirm a penalty without assessing whether it complies with new legislative standards. The implications of this judgment can be summarized in the following points:

  • The legislative reform can retroactively influence the penal treatment of defendants.
  • The appellate judge is obliged to examine ex officio any violations of the principle of legality.
  • Compliance with new legislative provisions is essential to ensure a fair trial and protect the rights of defendants.

Conclusions

Judgment No. 15728 of 2023 represents an important step forward in the protection of defendants' rights, highlighting the fundamental role of the principle of legality in the Italian judicial system. The Court's decision to review ex officio the penal treatment in light of legislative changes is a clear signal that the Italian legal system is evolving to ensure greater fairness and justice. It is crucial that legal practitioners and citizens are aware of these dynamics to better navigate criminal proceedings.