Judikatīvā konstitūcija: izpratne un nepieciešamība

The author of the article critically analyses the concept of a jurisprudential constitution developed in Lithuanian constitutional theory. This concept emphasizes the crucial role of the Constitutional Court in the legal system, recognizing constitutional interpretation given by the Constitutional Court as a binding part of the Constitution, obligatory for other state institutions and society. According to this view, the Constitutional Court holds exclusive authority and a monopoly on constitutional interpretation. The author stresses that such an approach disregards the principle of diversity of the sources of law, arguing that constitutional interpretation should consider all possible sources of law, not just the legally binding interpretation provided by the Constitutional Court. Furthermore, the Constitution is applied not only by the Constitutional Court but also by all state institutions, which, as a result, engage in constitutional interpretation. In this context, the author examines the meaning and significance of the famous quotation by Charles Evans Hughes: “The Constitution is what the judges say it is.” Traditionally, this phrase has been used to describe the political influence of constitutional courts.