明代诏狱审判程序的构成及其运行

The Constitution and Operation of the Trial Procedure at the King s Prisonin Ming Dynasty

在皇权推动下,明英宗正统时期确立诏狱审判程序,其法律性质上属于司法惯例,而非规范化的法律审判程序,这给后世皇帝突破程序留下空间。在诏狱审判程序设计上,具有皇权主导、参与部门权力相互制衡和非法司部门参与的特点,但其运行过程中,因程序设计上的先天不足、参与部门非法定授权、违反权力制衡规律等因素,带来司法审判不公,被权臣所操纵等弊端,其历史命运也走到尽头。

Withthe promotion of the imperial power,the jail trial procedure was established by Emperor Ming Yingzong in the Zhengtong period of the Ming dynasty.Its legal character is a matter of judicial practice,rather than a standardized jail trial procedure,which leaves room for later emperors to improve the procedure.In the design of the jail trial procedure,imperial power played a leading role,with a balance between involved departments and participation of non-judicial department.However,factors such as congenital deficiency in procedure design,illegal authorization by departments involved,violation of the check and balance of power during the operation processbrought to some disadvantages such as injustice in judicial trial and manipulation by powered ministers,thus leading to its final collapse.