News from Czechia - March 2025 🌱

Contents of the March Updates 🌱

Legislative Changes 📄

• Introduction of the Child Ombudsman as a new independent institution. 

• Amendment to the Advocacy Act: New rules for attorney escrow accounts and the protection of confidential communication. 

Court Decisions ⚖️

Constitutional Court 

• “Anička Case”: Violation of the rights of victims of sexual violence. 

• Liability for defamatory statements made by Members of Parliament. 

• Joint liability in adhesive proceedings in cases of sexual violence. 

Supreme Court 

• State liability for legislative omission in the field of personal data protection. 

Legislative Developments 📄

Introduction of the Children's Ombudsman: A New Institution for the Protection of Children's Rights in the Czech Republic 🫂

Keywords: child ombudsman, children's rights, NHRI, public defender of rights 

Effective from 1 July 2025, the Czech Republic will establish a new institution—the Children's Ombudsman—tasked with independently safeguarding and promoting children's rights both in individual cases and at the systemic level. This development arises from an amendment to Act No. 349/1999 Coll., on the Public Defender of Rights, which introduces the specialized role of the Children's Ombudsman. Until the Chamber of Deputies elects the first officeholder, Deputy Ombudsman Vít Alexander Schorm will assume the responsibilities of this role. 

The establishment of the Children's Ombudsman represents a significant advancement in the institutional protection of children's rights. The office's mandate will encompass the investigation of individual complaints, systematic monitoring of children's rights across various life domains, commentary on legislative proposals, formulation of recommendations, and the conduct of specialized research. A notable participatory mechanism will be the creation of an advisory body composed of children, facilitating the direct transmission of youth perspectives to relevant institutions. Additionally, the Children's Ombudsman will be authorized to initiate legal proceedings or intervene in ongoing cases where children's rights are implicated. Candidates for this position must meet stringent professional criteria, including Czech citizenship, a legal education, and demonstrable experience in the field of children's rights protection. The selection process will be conducted by the Chamber of Deputies, based on nominations from the President of the Republic, the Senate, and a body comprising representatives from higher education institutions. [1]

Amendment to the Legal Profession Act: Enhancing Accountability and Transparency in the Legal Profession 👀 

Keywords: attorney escrow, confidentiality of communication, Advocacy Act, unauthorized legal services 

On 20 March 2025, a comprehensive amendment to the Legal Profession Act (Act No. 73/2025 Coll.) was published in the Collection of Laws, reflecting the need for greater client rights protection, reinforcement of professional integrity, and adaptation to technological and practical developments. This reform, resulting from coordinated efforts among the Ministry of Justice, the Czech Bar Association, and other stakeholders, introduces, among other changes, the formalization of attorney-client confidentiality, new regulations for attorney escrow accounts, and the digitization of legal processes. 

The revised legal framework establishes attorney-client confidentiality as an independent legal concept, akin to the Anglo-American "attorney-client privilege." This confidentiality extends beyond professional secrecy, now recognized as a legally protected interest against third parties, thereby enhancing the security of client communications beyond the immediate attorney-client relationship. The amendment explicitly prohibits cash deposits and withdrawals in attorney escrow accounts, mandates the maintenance of an electronic escrow ledger, and imposes new obligations on financial institutions, addressing previous mismanagement of client funds. 

Furthermore, the amendment introduces the concept of informed consent concerning conflicts of interest and provides greater flexibility for trainee lawyers, such as the option of part-time practice. Given the increasing international emphasis on ethical standards within the legal profession and the protection of client rights, this reform can be viewed as a step toward strengthening the rule of law in the Czech context, with its provisions potentially serving as models in comparative legal discussions. [2]

Jurisprudence ⚖️

Constitutional Court

The "Anička" Case Before the Constitutional Court: Limits of Criminal Decision Review and Victim Protection 💔

Keywords: sexual violence, victims’ rights, re-victimization, Lex Anička 

In its ruling Pl. ÚS 17/24, the Plenum of the Constitutional Court partially upheld a constitutional complaint filed by a victim of sexual violence, challenging the Brno Regional Court's final judgment that imposed a suspended sentence with supervision on the perpetrator. The Constitutional Court found a violation of the procedural aspect of the complainant's right not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment under Article 3 of the Convention and Article 7(2) of the Charter. It criticized the Regional Court for inadequately justifying the leniency of the sentence and emphasized that criminal justice authorities must avoid re-victimization and trivialization of victims' suffering, referencing obligations under the Lanzarote Convention. 

Despite these findings, the Constitutional Court did not annul the contested judgment. The majority opinion highlighted constitutional limits on reviewing final decisions, particularly concerning legal certainty and the rights of the accused. Consequently, the declaration of rights violations remained without direct legal effect. This approach was contested by five dissenting judges, who criticized the majority's formalistic stance and noted the neglect of other infringements on the complainant's fundamental rights, including dignity and privacy. 

This case underscores systemic shortcomings in the Czech criminal justice system regarding adequate protection and participation of victims in proceedings that significantly affect them. The constitutional framework remains cautious in addressing excessively lenient sentences in cases involving severe violations of human dignity. Imposing a suspended sentence for repeated assaults on a minor's bodily autonomy sets a concerning precedent, potentially undermining public confidence in the state's ability to provide effective protection against the most egregious human rights violations. 

The case sparked public outrage and led to specific legislative initiatives, notably the proposal of the "Lex Anička" law, aiming to introduce mandatory individualized training plans for judges. The proposal seeks to enhance judicial awareness of domestic and sexual violence issues, their dynamics, impact on victims, and the gender stereotypes that may inadvertently influence judicial decisions. Although the proposal faces criticism from some judicial figures, including the President of the Supreme Court, it reflects a growing societal demand for a judiciary that is genuinely sensitive to victims' rights and does not perpetuate structural inequalities. [3] 

Liability for Parliamentary Speech Confirmed: Constitutional Court Decision in Case No. III. ÚS 3264/23 🗣️❗️

Keywords: freedom of speech, parliamentary indemnity, personality rights, Andrej Babiš 

In case No. III. ÚS 3264/23, the Constitutional Court considered the conflict between a Member of Parliament’s freedom of speech and an individual’s right to personal integrity and reputation. The proceedings concerned a constitutional complaint lodged by former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who sought to annul a Supreme Court ruling requiring him to apologize to former MP Miroslav Kalousek for statements made during a session of the Chamber of Deputies. The Constitutional Court dismissed the complaint, holding that the imposed duty to issue an apology constituted a proportionate and constitutionally legitimate restriction of the complainant’s freedom of expression in a democratic society. 

The Court acknowledged that Babiš’s speech was of a “hybrid” nature, combining factual allegations with value judgments. Nevertheless, it reiterated that even within parliamentary debate—though subject to heightened constitutional protection—the speaker must substantiate factual claims that carry a strong defamatory potential. The statements alleging that Kalousek “embezzled funds at the Ministry of Defence and killed people through faulty parachutes” could not be construed as mere hyperbole or political critique unless supported by concrete evidence. Furthermore, indemnity under Article 27(2) of the Constitution only shields MPs from criminal and disciplinary liability, not from civil liability. The Court emphasized that, while it does not aim to regulate the tone of political discourse, Members of Parliament remain responsible for serious defamatory statements that infringe upon the rights of others. The Supreme Court’s decision to impose an apology was therefore deemed to strike a fair balance between the competing constitutional rights involved. [4]

Joint Liability of Offenders in Adhesion Proceedings: Constitutional Court Strengthens Victims’ Rights ❤️‍🩹

Keywords: adhesive proceedings, joint liability, right to dignity, sexual violence 

In its decision No. III. ÚS 2083/23, the Constitutional Court systematically addressed for the first time the issue of joint and several liability of multiple tortfeasors in criminal proceedings, specifically in the context of adhesion claims by victims. The case concerned a fourteen-year-old girl who had been subjected to sexual violence, with harm resulting both from the assault itself and the subsequent dissemination of video recordings. The offence involved both criminally liable individuals and minors under the age of fifteen. The Court held that despite procedural distinctions between different categories of offenders (including separate proceedings for minors), the principle of passive joint and several liability must prevail. This principle enables victims to claim full compensation from any of the liable parties, irrespective of their criminal culpability. 

The Constitutional Court found that lower courts had violated the fundamental rights of the two female complainants, particularly their rights to a fair trial and human dignity, by rejecting their non-material damage claims during the adhesion proceedings—despite the victims’ active and repeated pursuit of such claims. The Court stressed that it is unreasonable to expect a minor navigating a complex legal system to formulate her claim with precise legal terminology or financial specificity “down to the last crown,” as the High Court had demanded. Trial courts must evaluate the substance of victims’ submissions as a whole, and must not dismiss essential procedural or evidentiary acts on overly formalistic grounds. [5]

Supreme Court 

State Liability for Legislative Inaction: Supreme Court Ruling on Data Protection 📚

Keywords: personal data protection, EU law, legislative omission, state liability 

In its judgment of 27 March 2024, Case No. 30 Cdo 3909/2023, the Czech Supreme Court addressed the issue of state liability for non-pecuniary damage caused by a breach of European Union law in the area of personal data protection. The claimant, an investigative journalist, sought an apology and compensation for non-material harm allegedly resulting from the unlawful collection and retention of his traffic and location data, which he claimed had violated his right to informational self-determination. The lower courts dismissed the claim, reasoning that legislative activity could not constitute a maladministration and that the claimant had failed to demonstrate concrete harm. 

The Supreme Court clarified that state liability under EU law may extend to legislative acts, provided that three conditions are met: (1) the breached rule of EU law confers rights on individuals, (2) the breach is sufficiently serious, and (3) there is a direct causal link between the breach and the damage suffered. The Court further emphasized that a violation of the right to data protection does not automatically give rise to non-material damage; the claimant must show a specific and demonstrable impact on their private sphere. In this case, the Supreme Court found that the lower courts had misjudged the claimant’s arguments by failing to admit proposed evidence and by inadequately addressing the allegations of concrete harm. The decisions of the lower courts were quashed and the matter remitted for retrial. [6]

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[1] Ombudsman – Public Defender of Rights. "Children's Ombudsman to Be Established: President Confirms by Signature." [Online]. 11 March 2025 [cited 16 April 2025]. Available at: https://www.ochrance.cz/aktualne/detsky_ombudsman_bude_prezident_to_dnes_stvrdil_svym_podpisem/ 

[2] Advokátní deník. "What Does the Major Amendment to the Legal Profession Act No. 73/2025 Coll. Entail?" [Online]. 21 March 2025 [cited 16 April 2025]. Available at: https://advokatnidenik.cz/2025/03/21/co-vsechno-prinasi-velka-novela-zakona-o-advokacii-c-73-2025-sb/  

[3] Constitutional Court. Judgment No. Pl. ÚS 17/24 of 25 September 2024. [Online]. [cited 16 April 2025]. Available at: https://www.usoud.cz/fileadmin/user_upload/Tiskova_mluvci/Publikovane_nalezy/2025/Pl._%C3%9AS_17-24_AN_v%C4%8D_disentu.pdf 

[4] Constitutional Court. Decision No. III. ÚS 3264/23 of 13 March 2025. [Online]. [cited 16 April 2025]. Available at: https://www.usoud.cz/fileadmin/user_upload/Tiskova_mluvci/Publikovane_nalezy/2025/3-3264-23_AN.pdf 

[5] Constitutional Court. Decision No. III. ÚS 2083/23 of 19 March 2025. [Online]. [cited 16 April 2025]. Available at: https://www.usoud.cz/fileadmin/user_upload/Tiskova_mluvci/Publikovane_nalezy/2025/3-2083-23_AN.pdf 

[6] Supreme Court. Judgment of 27 March 2024, Case No. 30 Cdo 3909/2023. [Online]. [cited 16 April 2025]. Available at: https://sbirka.nsoud.cz/sbirka/23310/