论法官的良心

法官自由心证是司法裁判的内在要求。自由心证并不意味着法官可以任意擅断。法官除应当依法裁判外,还应当依照良心的命令从事。良心具有伦理学与心理学上的科学依据,对于规范法官的心证,保证裁判活动的公正性具有重要作用。法官应当具有依照法律与良心独立裁判案件的强烈自觉意识。为了防止外力对法官良心的干扰,同时防止良心自身陷入主观唯心主义,应当在司法体制和诉讼程序上建立、健全和完善法官独立制度。

Discretional evaluation of evidence is the internal requirement of judicial judgment, but it does not mean that judges can be arbitrary in deciding cases. Besides the laws, it is the conscience that judges should abide by. Conscience has ethical and psychological bases and exerts important influence upon judges' discretional evaluation and judicial impartiality. Judges should possess a strong consciousness of abiding by the law. To avoid improper interference, procedural systems, such as independence of judges, should be established, perfected and strengthened.