论美国联邦最高法院对正当程序的阐释——以自然法为视角

Theory of the U. S. Supreme Court Interpretation of Due Process——In the Perspective of Natural Law

自然法蕴含的理性、正义、法治、权利等观念塑造了西方法治精神。发端于英国的正当程序作为西方宪政与法治传统中极其重要的理念和制度,与英国的"自然正义原则"密切相关。自然正义源于自然法,自然法要求的采取回避和听取申辩原则,构成了正当程序的核心内容。美国宪法第五和第十四修正案将自然法原则法定化。在联邦最高法院有关正当程序尤其是实质性正当程序的司法实践中,经常从自然法的视角对其进行阐释,使正当程序成为捍卫自由主义、契约自由与个人基本权利的有力武器,并在这一过程中,实现了对自然法的继承与超越。

Natural law has shaped the spirit of western rule of law with its ideas of rational, justice, rule of law and rights. Due process, whieh originated in the British and as an extremely important concept in traditional western constitutionalism and the rule of law and system, is closely related to the natural justice principle. Natural justice comes from the natural law, which request to avoid and listen to defend, and constitutes the core content of due process. The fifth and fourteenth amendment in US constitution legalize principles of natural law. In the judicial practices of Supreme Court about due process especially substantive due process, which based on the interpretation of natural law and become a powerful weapon in defensing liberalism, freedom of contract and the personal basic rights, and realize the inheritance and transcendence of the natural law during this process.