Jurisprudence Law at Estonia
Estonia operates under a civil law system influenced by continental European traditions, with a strong emphasis on written statutes. While case law does not hold formal precedential value, decisions from the Supreme Court play a significant role in interpreting and shaping the application of laws.
🇪🇪 Legal System Overview
Civil Law Tradition: Estonia's legal framework is primarily based on codified statutes, with the Constitution serving as the highest legal authority.
Role of Case Law: Although Estonian case law is not formally binding, the Supreme Court's decisions are considered a subsidiary source of law. For instance, the Code of Criminal Procedure explicitly recognizes Supreme Court judgments as sources for interpreting legal provisions not explicitly addressed by other laws.
⚖️ Notable Supreme Court Decisions
Delfi AS v. Estonia (2015)
Case Summary: The European Court of Human Rights held that the Estonian courts' decision to hold Delfi AS liable for defamatory comments posted by users on its news portal did not violate freedom of expression. The Court emphasized the responsibility of online platforms to prevent the publication of unlawful content.
Case 1-16-6179 (2021)
Case Summary: The Supreme Court addressed the admissibility of telecommunications data obtained without the individual's knowledge. The Court ruled that such evidence could be inadmissible if the procedure for collecting it significantly violated legal norms, highlighting the importance of protecting privacy rights.
Case 1-17-4924/15 (2017)
Case Summary: In this case, the Supreme Court considered whether a previous Finnish court's acquittal of an individual on certain charges precluded prosecution in Estonia for related offenses. The Court examined the principle of ne bis in idem (not twice for the same offense) in the context of international legal cooperation.
📚 Accessing Estonian Case Law
ECLI Portal: The European Case Law Identifier (ECLI) portal provides access to Estonian case law, including judgments and court orders. Recent decisions can be searched by court, date, and case type.
Riigi Teataja: Estonia's official legal publication site offers access to statutes, regulations, and other legal documents. While case law is not comprehensively published here, it's a valuable resource for statutory materials.
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