SUBICKA v. POLAND - 29342/06 [2010] ECHR 1281 (14 September 2010)

SUBICKA v. POLAND - 29342/06 [2010] ECHR 1281 (14 September 2010)

The absence of clear rules governing the consequences of a legal-aid lawyer's refusal to lodge a cassation appeal after the expiry of the time-limit created legal uncertainty and denied the applicant effective access to a court, in violation of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention.

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2010] ECHR 1281
Parties
Applicant: Iwona Subicka; Respondent: Republic of Poland
Jurisdiction
European Union
Procedural Posture
Application to the European Court of Human Rights / Judgment on Merits and Admissibility
Outcome
Violation of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention found; complaint regarding access to the Supreme Court declared admissible; remainder of the application inadmissible.
Legal Topics
Access to Court, Legal Aid, Cassation Appeals, Article 6 ECHR, Procedural Fairness
Human Rights Law Administrative Law Access to Court Legal Aid Cassation Appeals Article 6 ECHR Procedural Fairness

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Parties

Iwona Subicka

Applicant

Republic of Poland

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Application to the European Court of Human Rights / Judgment on Merits and Admissibility

  1. 1 Whether the applicant was denied effective access to a court in violation of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention due to the refusal of a legal-aid lawyer to lodge a cassation appeal after the expiry of the time-limit.

Ratio Decidendi

The absence of clear rules governing the consequences of a legal-aid lawyer's refusal to lodge a cassation appeal after the expiry of the time-limit created legal uncertainty and denied the applicant effective access to a court, in violation of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention.

Court Disposition

Violation of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention found; complaint regarding access to the Supreme Court declared admissible; remainder of the application inadmissible.

Orders

  • Respondent State to pay the applicant EUR 1,000 in respect of non-pecuniary damage within three months, plus tax if chargeable, converted to Polish zlotys at the date of settlement.
  • Simple interest at the marginal lending rate of the European Central Bank plus three percentage points from expiry of three months until settlement.