Pursuant to The Law on Civil Procedure (OG No 53/91) and the Law on Criminal Procedure (OG 62/03), the Republic of Croatia provides that a court in hearing of evidence can consider the expert opinion of a court-appointed expert in cases for which the court does not possess the particular expert (technical, medical, etc.) non-legal knowledge regarding clarification of facts which are inevitable for rendering judgment. Such experts may be used in environmental cases, for example for determining factual causation or impact. The judge, however, remains the sole authority on interpreting or clarifying the law.
For more information, contact Ms. Nataša Kačić-Bartulović at natasa.kacic-bartulovic@mzopu.hr.