The presumption of innocence in the reasoning of Hungarian criminal courts

Abstract

The author presents the methodology and results of an empirical research which was aimed at discovering the application and implementation of the principle of ’presumption of innocence’ in criminal procedure. The research analyzed patterns for reasoning used by judges during the evaluation of facts in criminal cases as well as their attitudes towards the principle of ’presumption of innocence’. The author concludes that, due to sociological reasons, hat the way judges apply the rule of ’free evaluation of evidences’ is not in accordance with the presumption of innocence.