Constitutional Court unable to rule on legal profession law

The Constitutional Court has declared it unable to rule on the constitutionality of Law No. 66.23, which regulates the legal profession. This decision, issued under ruling number 26/277, stems from a procedural deficiency in the referral process.

According to the court, the referring authority failed to attach a certified copy of the final text of the law to the referral letter. Instead, the submission included only a report on the preparatory work of the Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights Committee of the House of Councillors, which contained the draft law prior to its final approval. Because the court is tasked with reviewing laws after they have been fully approved and before they are enacted, the absence of the definitive text prevented a constitutional review.

Legal experts have noted the delay of approximately 30 days in reaching this decision, raising questions about the court's internal processes. Potential explanations for the timeline include the complex multi-party communication required to prepare such cases—involving the King, the Head of Government, and the heads of both parliamentary chambers—as well as the time needed to gather written observations and expert testimony.