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Commentary on Judgment No. 35646 of 2023: Retroactivity of Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure

Judgment No. 35646 of 2023, issued by the Court of Cassation, provides an important reflection on the issue of retroactivity of legislative amendments in criminal law. With this decision, the Court established that the amendments made to articles 405 and 408 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by Legislative Decree No. 150 of 2022 do not apply to proceedings already pending at the date of entry into force of the decree, provided that the public prosecutor had already registered the news of the crime in the register provided for by Article 335 of the Code. This clarification is fundamental to ensure the certainty of the law and the protection of the rights of the accused.

The Regulatory Context and the Judgment

Legislative Decree No. 150 of 2022 introduced significant changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure, particularly reforming the provisions related to archiving and closing preliminary investigations. The Court of Cassation, with the judgment in question, had to address the issue of the retroactivity of such amendments. In particular, the judges emphasized that the amendment of articles 405 and 408 cannot be applied to ongoing proceedings, thus protecting the rights of the accused and the principle of legality.

Amendment of articles 405 and 408 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by Legislative Decree No. 150 of 2022 - Retroactive application to ongoing proceedings - Exclusion. The amendments made to articles 405 and 408 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by Article 22 of Legislative Decree No. 150 of October 10, 2022, do not apply to proceedings pending at the date of entry into force of the aforementioned decree, in cases where the public prosecutor has already ordered the registration of the news of the crime in the register referred to in Article 335 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Implications of the Judgment

This judgment has profound implications not only for the specific case but for the criminal justice system as a whole. The Court reiterated the importance of a clear temporal delimitation of regulations, avoiding confusion and uncertainties in already initiated proceedings. Among the main consequences, we can list:

  • Protection of the rights of the accused, ensuring that new rules cannot influence already initiated procedures.
  • Reliability of the judicial system, as parties can count on the stability of the rules applicable to their cases.
  • Clarity in the application of the law, avoiding ambiguous interpretations that could compromise the fairness of the processes.

Conclusions

Judgment No. 35646 of 2023 represents a significant reference point for understanding legislative amendments in criminal procedure. The Court of Cassation highlighted how retroactivity cannot be applied indiscriminately, thereby protecting the rights of the accused and ensuring a fairer and more predictable legal system. This principle of non-retroactivity, in line with European norms and respect for human rights, is fundamental to maintaining citizens' trust in judicial institutions.