EU Court rules Czech Republic violated rights to legal counsel

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that the Czech Republic violated EU law by allowing the interrogation of suspects without a defense attorney present if a lawyer fails to appear within 48 hours of detention.

The ruling follows a complaint by the European Commission, which argued that both the Czech Republic and Hungary failed to meet obligations under EU directives. These directives require that suspects have access to legal counsel in a timely and effective manner to exercise their right to a defense. The Court emphasized that this right includes the physical presence and active participation of a lawyer during interrogations.

While the Court found that both nations breached EU law, it did not impose a fine on the Czech Republic in this specific ruling.