唐代司法集体决断制度探析

Analysis of the Judicial Collective Decision-Making Systems in the Tang Dynasty

唐代司法集体决断制度是在唐初统治者慎用刑罚、严于治吏、理性司法的治国理政理念的指导下形成的,它包括同职官员的意见联署制、三司官员的联合推事制、死刑案件的都堂决议制三种形式,具有评议形式合理性、适用范围广泛性、司法责任严密性的基本特点。唐代司法集体决断制度虽具有维护专制皇权和保障司法集权的历史局限性,但它确立了公允持平的司法标准、合而不同的合议规则、严格周密的司法责任,弥补了个人裁判的知识和价值单一的缺陷,促使司法裁判质量得到实质性提升,对中华法系的审判制度作出了重大贡献。

The judicial collective decision-making systems in the Tang Dynasty include the joint opinions of the officials in the same ranks,the joint trial of the three divisions and the Dutang ruling for death penalty cases,reflecting the governing principles of governors to carefully punish criminals,strictly manage officials and rationally make judicial decisions in the early period of the Tang Dynasty.The judicial collective decision-making systems in the Tang Dynasty have reasonable appraisal forms,wide applicable scope and rigorous responsibilities.Although the systems serve to maintain the imperial powers and the centralization of judicature,they establish fair and equal judicial standards,harmonious but different appraisal rules and rigorous judicial responsibilities,offset the inadequacy of individual judges’knowledge and values,significantly improve the quality of judgements,and greatly contribute to the construction of the judgement systems of the Chinese legal system.