The right to a fair trial is a fundamental element of legal systems. Guaranteed by national constitutions and the European Convention on Human Rights, it ensures the effectiveness of law against arbitrary acts of the authorities. The reports which appear in this volume were presented in Brno, at a seminar on European constitutional heritage, in which judges from constitutional courts and other equivalent bodies from approximately 20 countries participated. They show the convergence of approaches, in Europe and on other continents, and the universal nature of rights protected by a fair trial.