Narits, Raul

Job

Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence, University of Tartu
Head, Institute of Public Law, University of Tartu

Personal data

Born: September 19, 1952, Ambla
E-mail: raul.narits@ut.ee

Education

Ph.D., Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1987
Candidate of Law Programme, Lomonosov Moscow State University 1978–1981
Faculty of Law, University of Tartu, 1976 (cum laude)

Career

Head, Institute of Public Law, University of Tartu, 1993–current
Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence, University of Tartu, 1992–current
Scientific Adviser to the Administrative Law Chamber, Supreme Court of the Republic of Estonia, 1995–current
Assistant Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Tartu, 1992–1993
Docent, Faculty of Law, University of Tartu, 1988–1992
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Tartu, 1987–1988
Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Tartu, 1981–1987

Main areas of research

Comparative Jurisprudence, Interpretation and Argumentation of Law, Practical Legal Semantics
Harmonization of Information Law and Legal Theoretical Approach to Regulation of Information
Estonian Legal Space in Global Legal Space

Grants and projects

Estonian Science Foundation (ETF) Target Financing SF0182740s06 for Project: Estonian Legal Space in Global Legal Space, 2006-2011
Estonian Science Foundation (ETF) Grant No. 6676 for Project: Harmonization of Information Law and Legal Theoretical Approach to Regulation of Information, 2006-2009
Estonian Science Foundation (ETF) Grant No. 6464 for Project: Legal Theoretical Basis for Delegation of Public Functions to Private Legal Entities, 2005-2008
Estonian Science Foundation (ETF) Target Financing SF0181782s01 for Project: The Reform and Development of the Estonian Legal System and its Relationships with the EU Legal Order. With 11 Team Members, 2001–2005
Estonian Science Foundation (ETF) Grant No. 4577 for Project: Legal-theoretical Basis and Optimisation of Administrative Procedure. With 7 Team Members, 2001–2004
Estonian Law Centre Foundation (ELC) Project: Constitutional Law Institute. Member of the Board, 2001–20005
Estonian Law Centre Foundation (ELC), Open Estonia Foundation (OEF) and Constitutional and Legal Policy Institute (COLPI, Hungary) Project: Restricting Corruption in a Transformation Society (Legal Aspect). Member of Steering Committee, 1999–2002
Estonian Science Foundation (ETF) Grant No. 3356 for Project: Further Development of the Reform of Estonian Legal Order in Public Law: Theoretical Foundations and Legislation to Ensure the Harmonisation of Estonian Legal Order in Public Law with the Legislation of European Union. With 10 Team Members, 1998–2000
Estonian Science Foundation (ETF) No. 0539 for Project: Reform of Estonian National Legal Order in Public Law: Conceptual Positions of Departure, Legislation, Standards of Interpretation, Legal Decision. With 11 Team Members, 1996–2000

Professional activity and membership

President, Law Philosophy Society of Estonia, 1999–current
Member of the Editorial Board, Law Journal Juridica and Juridica International, 1993–current
Member of the Editorial Board, Journal Riigikogu Toimetised, 2000–current
Member of the Council, University of Tartu
Member of the Budget Committee of the University Council
Member of the Council, Faculty of Law
Member of the Council, Iuridicum Foundation, 1998–current
Expert of the Steering Committee on General Part of Administrative Law Reform set up by the Ministry of Justice, 1999–current

Participation in scientific conferences and seminars

International Seminar of the European Center for Parliamentary Research and Documentation: Legal and Regulatory Impact Assessment of Legislation, Tallinn, Estonia, May 20-22, 2001
International Symposium ‘Legislation and Legal Policy’, September 28–October 1, 2000, Tartu, Estonia
International Seminar on Tax Law, Tartu, Estonia, November 20, 2000
International Conference on Financial Law, Tartu, Estonia, November 29, 1999
International Conference: Governing – Lawful and/or Efficient, September 22, 2000, Tallinn, Estonia
26th Congress of the Comparative Law Society, September 24–27, 1997, Graz, Austria (participated)

Studies abroad

University of Münster, Germany, 1999, 2000
University of Münster, Germany, Visiting Professor, 1996
Institute of World Trade Economics of Kiel, Germany, 1995
Konrad Adenauer Foundation Research Fellow, Germany 1993
Academy of Krems, Austria, October 1992
University of Helsinki, Finland, 1991

Hobbies and community work

Member of Fraternity Fraternitas Liviensis
Member of Lions Club Tartu Taara
Mountain Skiing

Honours/Awards

Teaching practice

Encyclopaedia of Law
Problems of General Legal Theory
Practical Work of Students
Theory of the Interpretation of Law (for Master Students)
Methodology of Legal Science (for Master Students)
Problems of Public Law (Advanced Seminar for Master Students)
Pedagogical Internship (for Master Students)
Pedagogical Internship (for Doctoral Students)
Theory of State and Law (for Master and Doctoral Students)

Publications

Constitution of the Republic of Estonia. Commented Edition. 2nd ed., R. Narits et al. – Tallinn: Juura, 2008, pp. 15–38 (in Estonian).
R. Narits. Of the Modern Work Methods of Constitutional Courts in the Conditions of Continental European Legal Culture and Common Law as an Approximation of Mentalities [Konstitutsioonikohtute tänapäevastest töömeetoditest mandri-euroopaliku õiguskultuuri ja common law kui mõtlemisviiside lähenemise tingimustes]. Riigikogu Toimetised (Journal of the Estonian Parliament) 2008, No. 17, pp. 85-97. (in Estonian).
R. Narits. Recht und Rechtssystem als globale Struktur und Medium der Verhaltensorientierung. W. Krawietz, R. Narits (Eds.). Rechtstheorie II. 2007. Sonderheft Estland. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 2007, S. 219-239.
R. Narits, W. Krawietz. Dialektik von europäsierung und globalisierung modernen Rechts im weltgesellschaftlichen Kontext. Rechtstheorie, 2-3, 2007, S. 197-200.
R. Narits, K. Merusk. Richtige Praktiken der Rechtsetzung und Reform des estnischen Verwaltungsrecht. Osteuropa Recht, 2006, 52, S. 137-151.
R. Narits. Die Rechtsordnung in Estland: Wesen und Rationalität der Erkenntnis. Rechtstheorie. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 2005, S. 1-16.
R. Narits. About the Meaning of the Legal Aspect of Practical Semantics in Estonian Legal Order. International Journal for the Semiotics of Law, 2005, Vol. 18/1, pp. 5-21.
R. Narits. Of the Organisation of Objective Law in Estonia: from Codification to the Reformation of Law [Objektiivse õiguse korrastamisest Eestis: kodifitseerimisest õiguse ümberkujundamiseni]. Riigikogu Toimetised (Journal of the Estonian Parliament), 2005, 12, pp. 71-79. (in Estonian).
R. Narits. Of the Meaning of Judicial Decision. Decisions of the Supreme Court in the Estonian Legal Order: Meaning and Critique: Collection of the Research Contest of the Riigikogu [Kohtulahendi tähendusest. Riigikohtu lahendid Eesti õiguskorras: tähendus ja kriitika: Riigikohtu teadustööde konkursi kogumik]. Tartu: Estonian Law Centre Foundation, 2005, pp. 8-11. (in Estonian).
R. Narits. Rechtsordnung Estland: Wesen und Rationalität der Erkenntnis. Werner Krawietz; Alfred Sproede (Eds.). Rechtstheorie. Zeitschrift für juristische Methodenlehre, Normen- und Handlungstheorie, Soziologie und Philosphie des Rechts. Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 2004, S. 653-668.
R. Narits. Encyclopaedia of Law. Tallinn: Juura Õigusteabe AS, 2004. 253 p. (in Estonian).
R. Narits. Legitimationsfragen des Grundgesetzes im offenen Gesellschaftsleben.- Theorie des Rechts und der Gesellschaft. Festschrift für Werner Krawietz zum 70. Geburtstag. Berlin, Duncker & Humblot, 2003.
R. Narits. Estonian Constitution Continues Even in the New Europe [Eesti põhiseadus kestab ka uues Euroopas]. Riigikogu Toimetised (Journal of the Estonian Parliament), 2003, 7, pp. 46-50. (in Estonian).
R. Narits. Fundamental Concepts of Law [Õiguse põhimõisted], 2003. (in Estonian).
Constitution of the Republic of Estonia. Commented Edition, A.Allmann, T. Annus, M. Ernits, H.Lindpere, U. Lõhmus, O. Kask, E. Kergandberg, K. Land, L. Lehis, J. Liventaal, L. Madise, Ü. Madise, E. Markvart, R. Maruste, K. Merusk, A. Mõttus, R. Narits, V. Olle, P. Pruks, H. Pisuke, J. Põld, A. Reenumägi, U. Reinsalu, P. Roosma, M. Ruttu, V. Saarmets, H. Schneider, E.-J. Truuväli. Tallinn: Juura, 2002. 758 p. (in Estonian).
R. Narits, K. Merusk. Protection of Rights and Freedoms in the Estonian Administrative Court Procedure: Development and Problems. In: Judicial Independence and Effectiveness of the Judicial System in Estonia. [Õiguste ja vabaduste kaitse Eesti halduskohtumenetluses: areng ja probleemid. Kohtute sõltumatus ja kohtusüsteemi toimimise efektiivus Eestis]. Tartu: Iuridicum Foundation, 2002, pp. 87-99. (in Estonian).
R. Narits. Foreword In: Tammelo, I. Justice and Care [Õiglus ja hool]. Compiled by Luts, M., Narits R. Tartu: Ilmamaa, 2002. (in Estonian).
R. Narits. Assesment of the Impact of Draft Legislation: Problems in and Opportunities for Ensurning the Quality of Law-making and Acts. Estonian Experience. - Legal and Regulatory Impact Assesment of Legislation, Proceedings of ECPRD Seminar. Tallinn, 2001.
R. Narits. Von der Rechtssprache und juristischer Semantik im Kontext der estnischen Rechtsordnung. Rechtstheorie: Zeitschrift für Logik, Methodenlehre, Kybernetik und Soziologie des Rechts. Berlin: Duncker-Humblot, 2001. S. 535-551.
J. Kortteinen, R. Narits, K. Land. Grounds for the Law of the European Union [Euroopa Liidu õiguse alused]: Tartu University Press, 2001.
R. Narits. Assessment of the Legal and Regulatory Effect of Legislative Drafting [Seadusloome õigusliku ja regulatiivse mõju hindamine]. Riigikogu Toimetised (Journal of the Estonian Parliament), 2001, 4, pp. 97-101. (in Estonian).
R. Narits. Vocabulary of the Language and its Relation with the Estonian Legal Order [Keele sõnavara ja selle seos Eesti õiguskorraga]. The Estonian Mother Tongue Society Year Book, 2001, 46, pp. 46-51. (in Estonian).
R. Narits. Aulis Aarnio Wertungsjurisprudenz und ihre Bedeutung für eine vergleichende Rechtstheorie. – Rechtstheorie. Festschrift für Aulis Aarnio . The Reasonable As Rational? On legal Argumentation and Justification. Berlin, Duncker & Humblot , 2000, S. 571–589.
R. Narits, K. Merusk. On the Essence of Law and Possibilities of Legislative Acts. – Riigikogu Toimetised (Journal of the Estonian Parliament), 2000, No. 2, pp. 100–102 (in Estonian).
R. Narits, K. Merusk. Constitutional Law. Estonia. – International Encyclopaedia of Laws. The Haque, London, Boston: Kluwer Law International, 1999, 236 p.
R. Narits. Rechtsordnung in Estland: Wesen und Rationalität der Erkenntnis. – Über die Rolle des Notars in der heutigen Zeit, Tallinn, 1999 , S. 61–73.
R. Narits. Nature of the Estonian Legal Order and Rationality of the Perception thereof [Eesti Õiguskorra olemus ja selle tunnetamise ratsionaalsus]. In: 5th anniversary of the Estonian Chamber of Notaries. Conference Materials: Tallinn:, 1999, pp. 37-61. (in Estonian).
R. Narits, K. Merusk. On Estonian Constitutional Law. Tallinn, Juura Õigusteabe AS, 1998, 232 p. (in Estonian).
R. Narits. Language and Law. – Legal Language. Bulletin of the Government Committee on Legal Terminology, 1998, No. 1, pp. 7–11 (in Estonian).
R. Narits. Jurisprudence and Language. – Legal Language. Bulletin of the Government Committee on Legal Terminology, 1998, No. 2, pp. 4–6 (in Estonian).
R. Narits. Methodology of Legal Science I. Tallinn: Juura Õigusteabe AS, 1997. 125 p. (in Estonian).
R. Narits, K. Merusk (eds.) Estonia. Text of Constitution. Constitutional Law. – Kluwer Law International, Suppl. 23 (April 1997). 35 p.
R. Narits. Encyclopaedia of Law. Tallinn: Juura Õigusteabe AS, 1995, 140 p. (in Estonian).

Articles in Juridica

C. Ginter, R. Narits. Constitutionality of the Treaty Establishing the ESM as a Matter of Deficit of Democratic Process, Juridica Abstract, 2012, No. 5, pp. 343-358
The Fundamental Principles of the Estonian Constitution as a Guarantee of Statehood, Juridica Abstract, 2011, No. 1, pp. 3-11
Academic Legal Education: The Rule of Law, University Autonomy and the European Perspective, Juridica Abstract, 2009, No. 6, pp. 339–347
Life Devoted to the Quest for Justice: Ilmar Tammelo, Juridica Abstract, 2002, No. 9, pp. 635–638
Estonia’s Statehood and Estonian law, Juridica Abstract, 2000, No. 2, pp. 71–73
A Contemporary Way of Understanding the Meaning of the Constitution, Juridica Abstract, 1999, No. 10, pp. 466–472
Accreditation of Legal Education in Estonia and Its Legal Grounds (Based on the Example of the Law Faculty of the University of Tartu), Juridica Abstract, 1998, No. 8, pp. 407–421
Meeting of Estonian Association of Legal Philosophy, Juridica Abstract, 1998, No. 2, p. 87
Estonian Legal System and Jurisprudence of Value, Juridica Abstract, 1998, No. 1, pp. 2–6
Meeting of Estonian Association of Legal Philosophy, Juridica Abstract, 1998, No. 1, pp. 42–49
Legal Problems in the Press, Juridica Abstract, 1997, No. 10, pp. 525–532
Case Law, Juridica Abstract, 1995, No. 9, pp. 380–382
Main Features of Jurisprudence, Juridica Abstract, 1995, No. 9, pp. 378–380
Dear Reader, Juridica Abstract, 1995, No. 9, p. 377
International Seminar “Law in the Integrating Europe”, Juridica Abstract, 1995, No. 8, pp. 362–364
Ad Rem and Ad Acta. Jurisprudence, Juridica Abstract, 1995, No. 3, p. 86
Interpreting: Science or Law?, Juridica Abstract, 1994, No. 9, pp. 228–230
Studies in Europe, Juridica Abstract, 1994, No. 4, pp. 96–98
Studies in Europe, Juridica Abstract, 1994, No. 3, pp. 77–79
Should Votes be Weighed or Counted?, Juridica Abstract, 1994, No. 3, pp. 66–68
Studies in Europe, Juridica Abstract, 1994, No. 1, p. 30
Who Makes a Judge, Prosecutor, Advocate in Germany? Juridica Abstract, 1993, No. 6, pp. 129–130
Continuity and the Actus Contrarius Principle, Juridica Abstract, 1993, No. 5, p. 107

Articles in Juridica International

A. Talmar-Pere, R. Narits, A. Kasemets. Applying the Concept of Better Regulation to Internal Security Policy, Juridica International, 2011, No. 1, pp. 35-43
Iurisprudentia est divinarum atque humanarum rerum notitia, iusti atque iniusti scientia, Juridica International, 2011, No. 1, pp. 182-183
About the Principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia from the Perspective of Independent Statehood in Estonia, Juridica International, 2009, No.1, pp. 56-64
Principles of Law and Legal Dogmatics as Methods Used by Constitutional Courts, Juridica International, 2007, No. 1, pp. 15–22
General Objectives of Legal Theory and Significance of Values in the Context of Globalisation, Juridica International, 2006, No. 1, pp. 4–12
Dear Reader, Juridica International, 2006, No. 1, p. 1
Systematisation of Objective Law: From Codification to Reformation of Law, Juridica International, 2005, No. 1, pp. 161–167
Dear reader, Juridica International, 2004, No. 1, pp. 2–3
Good Law Making Practice and Legislative Drafting Conforming to It in the Republic of Estonia, Juridica International, 2004, No. 1, pp. 4–13
Deutsch-Estnische Rechtsfragen. N. von. Redecker (Hrsg.). Band 13. Studien des Instituts für Ostrecht München. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang Europäischer Verlag der Wissenschaften, 2003. – 108 S., Juridica International, 2003, No. 1, pp. 211–213
Space and Time as Central Issues of Society’s Perception of Law. Integraal Link Between Law and Time and Space, Juridica International, 2003, No. 1, pp. 120–127
The Republic of Estonia Constitution on the Concept and Value of Law, Juridica International, 2002, No. 1, pp. 10–16
On Options of Law - interpretation in the Context of the General Part of the Civil Code Act, Juridica International, 2001, No. 1, pp. 58–65
About the Meaning of the Legal Aspect of Practical Semantics in Estonian Legal Order, Juridica International, 2000, No. 1, pp. 11–19
Comprehension of the Constitution (from the Communitarian Point of View), Juridica International, 1999, No. 1, pp. 3–10
Law Philosophy Society of Estonia, Juridica International, 1999, No. 1, pp. 208–209
On Legal Bases and Process of Accreditation of Teaching of Law in Estonia (University of Tartu Faculty of Law Case), Juridica International, 1998, No. 1, pp. 142–162
Fundamental Rights and Freedoms in Estonian Constitution, Juridica International, 1998, No. 1, pp. 25–34
The Role of Language Cognition in Legal Method, Juridica International, 1997, No. 1, pp. 14–24
Interpretation of Law in the Estonian Legal System, Juridica International, 1996, No. 1, pp. 11–16
Legal Foundations of University Education in Estonia, Juridica International, 1996, No. 1, pp. 125–129

Languages

Estonian (Native)
Russian (Fluent)
German (Fluent)
Finnish (Good)
English (Satisfactory)

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