Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T18:08:46.908Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The transition to a democratic Portuguese judicial system: (delaying) changes in the legal culture*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2016

João Paulo Dias
João Paulo Dias*
Affiliation:
Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Portugal. Email: [email protected];
*
Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The Revolution of 25 April 1974 had a strong impact on justice in Portugal. Initially, it can be said that there was evidence of a process of democratisation involving the judicial structures, together with effective improvements to conditions allowing for independent and autonomous professional performance. However, in analysing the course of judicial reforms, it can be seen that changes took place more on a legislative level than in terms of the performance of the courts, proving that the evolution of the judicial system still demands a change of the legal culture. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to reflect on the evolution of the legal architecture in Portugal, seeking to determine whether the transition to a democratic judicial system is complete or whether, on the contrary, we are still faced with the process of justice in transition, delaying any changes in the current legal culture.

Type
Articles
Information
International Journal of Law in Context , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , March 2016 , pp. 24 - 41
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

This paper was written within the framework of a broader research project entitled ‘Who are our magistrates? A professional characterisation of judges and public prosecutors in Portugal’, supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (PTDC/CPJ-JUR/100390/2008 | FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-009210). In terms of rights and duties, judges and public prosecutors are two separate but parallel judicial professions in Portugal. In addition to carrying out a survey of judges and public prosecutors, the project also analysed the evolution of judicial reforms in Portugal during the last forty years, aiming to understand the complex interactions between politics and justice. This is the focus of the present paper.

References

Bulmer, Simon J. and Radaelli, Claudio M. (2004) The Europeanisation of National Policy?. No. p0042. Belfast: Queens University Belfast.Google Scholar
Cluny, António (1992) ‘Démocratie et rôle de l'associationisme judiciaire au Portugal’ in Università degli Studi di Trieste and MEDEL (eds), La formation des magistrats en Europe et le rôle des syndicats et des associations professionnelles. Padova: CEDAM, 133–140.Google Scholar
Cluny, António (1995) ‘O Ministério Público o poder judicial’, Cadernos da Revista do Ministério Público 6: 37–55.Google Scholar
Cluny, António (1997) Pensar o Ministério Público hoje. Lisbon: Cosmos.Google Scholar
Dgaj (Direção-Geral da Administração da Justiça) (2012) Ensaio para a reorganização da estrutura judiciária. Lisbon: Ministério da Justiça.Google Scholar
Dias, João Paulo (2001) ‘O “mundo” dos magistrados: a avaliação profissional e a disciplina’, Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais 60: 87–120. Online: <http://www.ces.uc.pt/rccs/index.php?id=755&id_lingua=1>.Google Scholar
Dias, João Paulo (2004) O Mundo dos Magistrados: A evolução da organização e do auto-governo judiciário. Coimbra: Almedina.Google Scholar
Dias, João Paulo (2012) ‘Estatutos das magistraturas e Conselhos Superiores: uma justiça em transição para a democracia no pós-revolução’, in Ferreira, Fátima Moura, Mendes, Francisco Azevedo and Capela, José Viriato (eds), Justiça na Res Publica (Sécs. XIX–XX). Braga: CITCEM, 220–255.Google Scholar
Dias, João Paulo (2013) O Ministério Público no acesso ao direito e à justiça: ‘porta de entrada’ para a cidadania. Coimbra: Almedina.Google Scholar
Dias, João Paulo and Almeida, Jorge (2010) ‘The External and Internal Conditions for the Independence of the Judiciary in Portugal’, in De Groot, Leny and Rombouts, Wannes (eds), Separation of Powers in Theory and Practice: An International Perspective. Nijmegen: Wolf Legal Publishers, 225–252.Google Scholar
Dias, João Paulo and Azevedo, Rodrigo (eds) (2008) O papel do Ministério Público no poder judicial: Estudo comparado dos países latino-americanos. Coimbra: Almedina.Google Scholar
Dias, João Paulo, Fernando, Paula, and Lima, Teresa Maneca (2008) ‘O Ministério Público em Portugal’ in Paulo Dias, João and Azevedo, Rodrigo (eds), O papel do Ministério Público no poder judicial: Estudo comparado dos países latino-americanos. Coimbra: Almedina, 28–70.Google Scholar
Goetz, Klaus H. and Hix, Simon (eds) (2001) Europeanised Politics? European Integration and National Political Systems (West European Politics 23). London: Frank Cass.Google Scholar
Gomes, Conceição (2011) Os atrasos da Justiça. Lisbon: Ensaios da Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos.Google Scholar
Guibentif, Pierre (2014) ‘Law in the Semi-periphery: Revisiting an Ambitious Theory in the light of Recent Portuguese Socio-legal Research’, International Journal of Law in Context 10(4): 538–558.Google Scholar
Hammergreen, Linn (2007) Envisioning Reform: Conceptual and Practical Obstacles to Improving Judicial Performance in Latin America. Pennsylvania, PA: Penn State University Press.Google Scholar
Hammerslev, Ole and Madsen, Mikael Rask (2014) ‘The Return of Sociology in Danish Socio-legal Studies: A Survey of Recent Trends’, International Journal of Law in Context 10(3): 397–415.Google Scholar
Lúcio, Álvaro Laborinho (2002) ‘Justiça e Política – Um simples contributo’, Revista do Ministério Público 90: 7–16.Google Scholar
Magalhães, Pedro Coutinho (1995) ‘Democratização e independência judicial em Portugal’, Análise Social XXX(130): 51–90.Google Scholar
Magalhães, Pedro Coutinho (1999) ‘Corporativismo, judicialização da política e a “crise da justiça” em Portugal’, Revista do Ministério Público 79: 11–28.Google Scholar
Marques, Maria Manuel Leitão, Pedroso, João and Gomes, Conceição (1999) ‘The Portuguese System of Civil Procedure’, in Zuckerman, A. A. S. (ed.), Civil Justice in Crisis: Comparative Perspectives of Civil Justice. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 413–441.Google Scholar
Miranda, Jorge (1999) ‘Le Conseil supérieur de la magistrature’, in Renoux, Thierry (ed.), Les conseils supérieurs de la magistrature en Europe. Paris: La Documentation Française, 257–270.Google Scholar
Mj (Ministério da Justiça) (2012) Linhas estratégicas para a reforma da administração judiciária. Lisbon: Ministério da Justiça.Google Scholar
Nelken, David (2004a) ‘Using the Concept of Legal Culture’, Australian Journal of Legal Philosophy 29: 1–26.Google Scholar
Nelken, David (2004b) ‘Comparing Legal Cultures’, in Sarat, Austin (ed.), The Blackwell Companion to Law and Society. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 113–127.Google Scholar
Nelken, David (2012) ‘Using Legal Culture: Purposes and Problems’, in Nelken, David (ed.), Using Legal Culture. London: Wildy, Simmonds & Hill Publishing, 1–51.Google Scholar
Ochoa S., Juan Carlos (2015) ‘Towards a Holistic Approach, in International Practice, to the Design and Implementation of Initiatives to Promote the Rule of Law at the National Level’, International Journal of Law in Context 11(1): 78–91.Google Scholar
O'donnell, Guillermo (2004) ‘Why the Rule of Law Matters’, Journal of Democracy 15(4): 32–46.Google Scholar
O'donnell, Guillermo and Schmitter, Philipe C. (2013) Transitions from Authoritarian Rule: Tentative Conclusions about Uncertain Democracies. Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins University Press.Google Scholar
Pcm (Presidência do Conselho de Ministros) (2011) Programa do XIX Governo Constitucional. Online: <http://www.portugal.gov.pt/media/130538/programa_gc19.pdf> (last accessed 5 September 2014).+(last+accessed+5+September+2014).>Google Scholar
Pedroso, João, Trincão, Catarina and Dias, João Paulo (2003) Por caminhos da(s) reforma(s) da justiça. Coimbra: Coimbra Editora.Google Scholar
Pinto, António Costa (ed.) (2011) Contemporary Portugal: Politics, Society and Culture, 2nd edn.New York: Columbia University Press.Google Scholar
Przeworski, Adam (1991) Democracy and Market: Political and Economic Reforms in Eastern Europe and Latin America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Raimundo, Filipa and Pinto, António Costa (2014) ‘From Ruptured Transition to Politics of Silence: The Case of Portugal’, In Wouters, N. (ed.), Transitional Justice and Memory in Europe (1945–2013). Cambridge: Intersentia, 173–198.Google Scholar
Rodrigues, Cunha (1999a) Lugares do direito. Coimbra: Coimbra Editora.Google Scholar
Rodrigues, Cunha (1999b) Comunicar e julgar. Coimbra: Minerva.Google Scholar
Rodrigues, Cunha (1999c) Em nome do povo. Coimbra: Coimbra Editora.Google Scholar
Ruivo, Fernando (1986) ‘A judicatura num período de crise do Estado’, Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais 18/19/20: 343–376. Online: <http://www.ces.uc.pt/rccs/index.php?id=253&id_lingua=1>..>Google Scholar
Santos, Boaventura de Sousa (1990) O Estado e a sociedade em Portugal (1974–1988). Porto: Afrontamento.Google Scholar
Santos, Boaventura de Sousa (1994) Pela mão de Alice – O social e o político na pós-modernidade. Porto: Afrontamento.Google Scholar
Santos, Boaventura de Sousa (1995) Toward a New Common Sense: Law, Science and Politics in the Paradigmatic Transition. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Santos, Boaventura de Sousa (1999a) ‘The GATT of Law and Democracy’, Oñati Papers 7: 49–86.Google Scholar
Santos, Boaventura de Sousa (1999b) ‘A crise (interna ou externa) dos tribunais’, in Conselho Económico e Social (eds), A justiça em Portugal. Lisboa: Conselho Económico e Social, 183–196.Google Scholar
Santos, Boaventura de Sousa and Gomes, Conceição (eds) (2006) A Geografia da Justiça: Para um novo mapa judiciário. Coimbra: Centro de Estudos Sociais/Permanent Observatory on Portuguese Justice. Online: <http://opj.ces.uc.pt/pdf/A_Geografia_da_Justica_Relatorio.pdf>.Google Scholar
Santos, Boaventura de Sousa and Gomes, Conceição (eds) (2010) A Gestão nos Tribunais: Um olhar sobre a experiência das comarcas piloto. Coimbra: Centro de Estudos Sociais/Permanent Observatory on Portuguese Justice. Online: <http://opj.ces.uc.pt/pdf/RelatorioA_gestao_dos_tribunais_01_04_2010.pdf>.Google Scholar
Shapiro, Martin (1981) Courts – A Comparative and Political Analysis. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sweet, Alec Stone (2002) Integration and the Europeanisation of the Law. No. p0024. Belfast: Queens University Belfast.Google Scholar