Simplified Judicial Procedures in Civil Procedure of Ukraine: Conceptual and Categorical Analysis
Abstract
Abstract. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to improve the efficiency of civil justice in Ukraine under the conditions of judicial reform and European integration processes. The introduction of simplified judicial procedures is an important component of the transformation of the procedural system, aimed at ensuring efficiency, procedural economy, and accessibility of justice. However, the conceptual and categorical framework of this institution remains undefined, which complicates the uniform application of legal norms and reduces the level of legal certainty. The inconsistency of terms such as "simplified claim proceedings", "simplified procedure", and "small claims procedure" requires theoretical reconsideration and systematization. The purpose of the article is to conduct a comprehensive conceptual and categorical analysis of the institution of simplified judicial procedures in the civil process of Ukraine, to clarify its legal nature, functional purpose, and role in ensuring effective justice. The methodological basis of the research includes general scientific and special legal methods: analysis, synthesis, system-structural, comparative-legal, and formal-dogmatic. The application of these approaches made it possible to study the essence of simplified procedures in the context of procedural economy, to reveal their functions, and to determine the features distinguishing them from general claim proceedings. As a result of the study, it was established that simplified judicial proceedings constitute a special procedural form focused on the prompt consideration of uncomplicated cases with minimal expenditure of time and resources, without violating the principles of adversarial process, dispositivity, and fairness. It is determined that this institution performs regulatory, protective, and social functions, promotes procedural economy, and reduces the burden on the judiciary. The need for unification of terminology, clarification of the categorical framework, and the legislative consolidation of the concept of "simplified judicial procedure" as a generic category is substantiated. The scientific novelty of the study lies in defining the systemic features of simplified judicial procedures and formulating proposals for improving their terminological and normative framework. The practical significance of the results consists in their applicability for improving judicial practice, developing educational programs in civil procedural law, and enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement.
Keywords: simplified claim proceedings; simplified judicial procedure; civil process; procedural economy; justice; court accessibility; law enforcement.
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