This book brings legal and academic perspective to the theory and practice surrounding the right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time. This field of rights has been somewhat neglected academically, a fact which jars with the sheer volume of case law budding from this single, simple, fundamental right, bearing testimony to the widespread concern with delay in judicial proceedings which transcends the boundaries of states or legal systems.
The work provides a blueprint for analysing the effectiveness of legal remedies across entire legal systems, as well as in any given individual case. The first part focuses on deriving legal principles from the body of jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, while the second part contains illustrations of the practical application of such principles.
The content constitutes essential reading for students, academics, lawyers, judges, practitioners and all those who wish to understand the issue of delay in judicial proceedings, and the legal context of available remedies. The author aims to raise awareness about the human rights issues which come into play when delivery of justice is delayed, and to provide both an academic and practical reference.
'This thought-provoking introduction to the study of court delay and human rights remedies provides in-depth analyses of relevant legal issues in the contexts of the European Court of Human Rights and Malta, and serves as a guide to the study of court proceedings and human rights protection from a novel angle. It is written in a lively, accessible and enlightening manner. It contains much that will be invaluable to both the scholars and practitioners in the field of international human rights law, offering dynamic insights into the study of human rights protection and making a significant contribution to the subject. The writing allows the readers to delve deeper.'
Professor Shen Wei, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
'The problem of excessive judicial delays continues to plague many legal systems in Europe and it has given rise to a phenomenal volume of cases before the Strasbourg court. Caroline Savvidis's study of this long-neglected problem is an impressive, insightful contribution which will be of the greatest interest to students, practitioners and governmental reformers.'
Professor Vernon Valentine Palmer, Tulane Law School, USA
