Peculiarities of exercising the investigating judge’s powers within the framework of a mixed model of judicial oversight: Consideration of the european legal paradigm
Keywords:
Investigating Judge, Judicial Oversight, Mixed Model, Coercive Measures, Seizure of Property, Detention, ProportionalityAbstract
During 2022–2025, notable transformations occurred in the regulation of judicial oversight at the pre-trial stage within continental European legal systems, including Ukraine, Poland, France, and Spain. The study aimed to conduct a comparative assessment of the scope and functional structure of investigating judges’ powers (or equivalent judicial actors), with a primary focus on evaluating the potential adaptation of European oversight mechanisms to the Ukrainian mixed model of judicial review. The research relied on theoretical–legal and comparative methods, combined with qualitative content analysis of 48 judicial decisions issued by Ukrainian courts in 2022–2025, covering the authorization of searches, property seizures, precautionary measures, National Security and Defense Council actions, and complaints against investigative authorities. Comparative analysis of Poland, France, and Spain was conducted at the normative and structural level on the basis of legislation and judicial practice. The results indicate that in Ukraine, search-related authorizations constituted the predominant category of judicial oversight decisions, followed by property seizures, precautionary measures and National Security and Defense Council actions, and appeals against investigative inaction. The comparative findings demonstrate that, although all examined jurisdictions formally apply proportionality and justification tests, the depth, consistency, and methodological rigor of judicial reasoning vary significantly. This variation reveals a direct relationship between the quality of procedural reasoning and the effectiveness of judicial protection of fundamental rights, particularly in cases involving coercive investigative measures. The practical relevance of the study lies in formulating evidence-based recommendations aimed at strengthening proportionality analysis, enhancing judicial specialization, and incorporating effective elements of the mixed oversight models applied in Poland, France, and Spain, thereby reinforcing the protection of rights during pre-trial proceedings in Ukraine.
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