Beyond the Principle of Proportionality: Controlling the Restriction of Rights under Factual Uncertainty

The principle of proportionality is considered the main legal tool to control restrictive measures of rights, both in ordinary courts and at a constitutional level. In addition to its general limitations, new shortcomings of the principle have played a central role during the pandemic, questioning t...

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Main Author: Borja Sánchez Barroso
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Scandinavian University Press 2023-04-01
Series:Oslo Law Review
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.idunn.no/doi/10.18261/olr.9.2.1
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author Borja Sánchez Barroso
author_facet Borja Sánchez Barroso
author_sort Borja Sánchez Barroso
collection DOAJ
description The principle of proportionality is considered the main legal tool to control restrictive measures of rights, both in ordinary courts and at a constitutional level. In addition to its general limitations, new shortcomings of the principle have played a central role during the pandemic, questioning the principleʼs efficacy in situations of factual uncertainty, especially in technically or scientifically complex contexts. This article analyses this efficacy problem and exemplifies it with specific measures adopted to prevent COVID-19. It also analyses potential ways to counter those shortcomings, such as refining the principle itself, emphasising judicial deference to legislative and executive powers, or adopting prior decisions as to the information that must be taken into account in case of uncertainty. Finally, the article proposes some additional checks that could complement the culture of justification promoted by the principle and strengthen the control of public powers when restricting rights under conditions of uncertainty.
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spelling doaj-art-c3660025206e4b15ad86e9fe810eaf052025-08-20T03:23:11ZengScandinavian University PressOslo Law Review2387-32992023-04-0192749110.18261/olr.9.2.1Beyond the Principle of Proportionality: Controlling the Restriction of Rights under Factual UncertaintyBorja Sánchez Barroso0Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente MártirThe principle of proportionality is considered the main legal tool to control restrictive measures of rights, both in ordinary courts and at a constitutional level. In addition to its general limitations, new shortcomings of the principle have played a central role during the pandemic, questioning the principleʼs efficacy in situations of factual uncertainty, especially in technically or scientifically complex contexts. This article analyses this efficacy problem and exemplifies it with specific measures adopted to prevent COVID-19. It also analyses potential ways to counter those shortcomings, such as refining the principle itself, emphasising judicial deference to legislative and executive powers, or adopting prior decisions as to the information that must be taken into account in case of uncertainty. Finally, the article proposes some additional checks that could complement the culture of justification promoted by the principle and strengthen the control of public powers when restricting rights under conditions of uncertainty.https://www.idunn.no/doi/10.18261/olr.9.2.1ProportionalityFundamental RightsScientific Uncertainty
spellingShingle Borja Sánchez Barroso
Beyond the Principle of Proportionality: Controlling the Restriction of Rights under Factual Uncertainty
Oslo Law Review
Proportionality
Fundamental Rights
Scientific Uncertainty
title Beyond the Principle of Proportionality: Controlling the Restriction of Rights under Factual Uncertainty
title_full Beyond the Principle of Proportionality: Controlling the Restriction of Rights under Factual Uncertainty
title_fullStr Beyond the Principle of Proportionality: Controlling the Restriction of Rights under Factual Uncertainty
title_full_unstemmed Beyond the Principle of Proportionality: Controlling the Restriction of Rights under Factual Uncertainty
title_short Beyond the Principle of Proportionality: Controlling the Restriction of Rights under Factual Uncertainty
title_sort beyond the principle of proportionality controlling the restriction of rights under factual uncertainty
topic Proportionality
Fundamental Rights
Scientific Uncertainty
url https://www.idunn.no/doi/10.18261/olr.9.2.1
work_keys_str_mv AT borjasanchezbarroso beyondtheprincipleofproportionalitycontrollingtherestrictionofrightsunderfactualuncertainty