The imputation hearing: beyond the mere act of communication

Abstract

The imputation hearing as an act of communication in criminal courts has evolved through jurisprudence through an important exercise of judicial activism, in which, by way of protection action, the maximum corporation of justice has complemented the norm in order to expand the concept of the guardianship function of the guarantee judge.  This work aims to make a brief review of the jurisprudential line that the Court has developed regarding said criminal procedure institution established in article 280 of the Panamanian criminal procedure code and introduce some doctrinal findings regarding formal and material controls at this stage.