In light of increasing European legal harmonization, these comparative essays assess the legal situation of offences associated with the criticism of judges and other judiciary activity in Europe, examining the conflicting demands of freedom of expression and the independence of the judiciary.

This text undertakes a comparative study of the management of the conflicting demands between freedom of expression and the independence of judiciary within a European context. In a collection of essays from selected European jurisdictions, the book assesses the legal situation of the offences associated with the criticism of judges and other judicial activity. With increasing harmonization of legal standards in Europe, this text offers an approach to the revelation of the common and acceptable standards in a field that is full of uncertainties. It aims to fill the gap in the body of knowledge relating to freedom of expression in democratic society in its strategy to widen the debate into the field of judicial activity, and intends to provide doctrinal and practical lessons to researchers and practitioners in the field of human rights and freedom of expression, and particularly the judicial sphere.

Part 1 Introduction: can the independence of the judiciary withstand criticism? - an introduction to the criticism of judges in Europe. Part 2 The common law: scandalizing the court in England and Wales
criticizing judges in Ireland. Part 3 The ordinary law: criticizing judges in Germany
reclusing judges in Austria
criticizing judges in Belgium
contempt of court in French law - a criminal offence
criticizing judges in Denmark
criticizing judges in Iceland. Part 4 The influence of culture and history: criticizing judges in the Netherlands
criticizing judges in Italy
criticizing judges in Greece. Part 5 Legal systems in transition: criticizing judges in Russia
criticizing public officials in Hungary. Part 6 The influence of the European convention on human rights: Article 10 of the ECHR and the criticism of public officials
Article 10 of the ECHR and the criticism of judges.