译文(字数 2849):
接近正义:英国小额诉讼的经验 John Baldwin
英国小额诉讼程序是一种简化程序,其规定允许在正式诉讼费用太高的情况下进行法律救济。但是,尽管程序提供了审判结果公平公正的机会,同时却也体现了非正式纠纷解决机制所面临的困难。
小额诉讼程序提供了一种法律问题解决机制,涉及小额款项的法律纠纷可以在免除支付不必要费用的情况下得到解决。在大多数的小额诉讼程序中,听证会多是非传统民事庭审中的非正规组成机构。“干涉主义”裁判员将在双方有或者没有法律代表的情况下,帮助到当事人双方解决纠纷。这些程序提供了一个粗略简陋的正义,因而门外汉通常要求承担唯一的责任,不仅仅是为了准备他们的案子,同时也将其呈现在了法庭上。与此同时,在他们使用的裁判方法中,也存在着广泛的界限。事实上,在英国的裁判是允许使用任何的方法进行听证的以显示他们所认为的公平公正。
外文原文(字符数 8281):
外文出处:John Baldwin
Access to justice :the English experience with small claims
The simplified procedures of the English small claims system permit legal redress in situations where formal litigation would be too costly. But while the procedures offer access to justice, they also illustrate the difficulties that informal dispute resolution mechanisms can pose.
Small claims procedures provide a mechanism by which legal disputes involving small sums of money can be resolved without disproportionate expense. In most small claims proceedings, hearings are much more informal than in traditional civil court hearings. An “interventionist” adjudicator is expected to help the parties present their cases, and there is little or no legal representation.
These proceedings provide a rough and ready brand of justice, where laypersons commonly assume sole responsibility not only for preparing their cases but also for presenting them in court. Adjudicators,meanwhile, have wide latitude in the methods they use. Indeed, in England adjudicators are allowed to use whatever method of proceeding at a hearing they consider to be fair.