摘要
在法律變遷和機構改革之外，清末大理院的司法實踐（1907-1911）刻畫了清末法律變革的實踐展開。與固有觀念不同，在司法實踐中，大理院吸收了西方近代法制成果的部分內容，也傳承了傳統法律的部分審理邏輯。根據變法維新的要求，大理院吸收了近代君主立憲制度原理，通過法科教學和結業考試的方式培養各位法官，以求其具有基本的新式法律知識儲備，並且在個案審判中利用西方法理邏輯解釋法律適用問題；根據本土司法實踐的特殊性，大理院以結果正義為基本追求，在新式審判程序的基礎上，優化、調整了實踐活動中的部分流程，推動司法文明的進程。面對司法改革的時代課題，大理院以改良司法為基本追求，提高證據在事實認定中的重要性，同時取消部分不必要傳訊程序，減少民眾的訴訟成本，從而改良傳統審理制度的弊端；為了追求良好的法秩序和個案正義，大理院吸收了傳統的審理邏輯，民事審判中注重維護人際關係，刑事審判則以「情法之平」為核心目標。通過梳理大理院的審判活動，可以發現大理院對傳統法律和新式法律的抉擇及其態度，從而為後世司法審判提供一定借鑒。
Beyond legal changes and institutional reforms, the judicial practices of the Dali Court (Dali Yuan 大理院 [Supreme Court of Justice], 1907-1911) in the late Qing dynasty illustrate the practical unfolding of legal reform during that period. Contrary to conventional beliefs, the Dali Court in its judicial practices incorporated elements of modern legal principles while also retaining aspects of traditional legal reasoning. In response to the demands for reform, the Dali Court adopted principles of constitutional monarchy from the West and used legal education and graduation examinations to train judges and ensure they had at least a basic knowledge of modern law. In judicial cases, Western legal reasoning was employed to explain issues of legal application. On local judicial practice, the Dali Court aimed for substantive justice, adjusting certain processes within new trial procedures to advance judicial civilization. In the matter of judicial reform, the Dali Court focused on improving the judiciary, enhancing the
significance of evidence in factual determinations, and eliminating unnecessary summons procedures to reduce the litigation costs for the public, thereby addressing the shortcomings of traditional trial systems. To pursue a sound legal order and case-specific justice, the Dali Court integrated traditional legal reasoning, emphasizing the protection of interpersonal relationships in civil trials and remaining centered on the balance of “emotion and law” (qing fa zhi ping 情法之平) in criminal trials. By analyzing the Dali Court’s judicial activities, we can discern its choices and attitudes toward traditional and modern law, which may offer valuable insights for future judicial practices.
關鍵詞
清末大理院、司法實踐、法律變革、法制文明
Late-Qing Dali Court (Dali Yuan [Supreme Court of Justice]), judicial practice, legal reform, legal civilization
