为法律专家意见书“把脉”

近年来,法律专家意见书与日俱增,并对司法审判产生了一定影响。然而,它既不属于证人证言、鉴定结论,又不同于辩护词、代理词,当属学理解释。其存在,有助于保护"弱势"的合法利益,有助于司法公正和司法民主。从比较法学角度出发,借鉴美国的"法庭之友"制度,亟待从立法上赋予法律专家意见书以"名分",确立出具主体资格,明确适用范围,载明邀请主体、费用负担、与当事人利害关系,法律专家仅对适用法律问题发表意见,不能对法律事实发表意见。

View on Legal Experts Opinion

In recent years, legal experts' opinion papers have been increasingly growing, and have had certain effect on the judicial trial. However, they are neither the testimony of witnesses nor conclusions, and are also different from the defence and the agent word. It lies inside the area of theoretical explanation. It will help protect the legitimate interests of the "vulnerable", and contributes to the justice and democracy. From the comparative law perspective, taking example by the "amicus curiae" system in the United States, we need to give it the right position in legislation, clear the subject qualification, and specify the main body to invite, burden of expense, and the interests of the parties. The legal experts could only comment on the application of law, but not the legal facts.