On January 27th, a distinguished group of judges, lawyers, and scholars from Brazil and the United States gathered for a symposium on civil justice in Brazil. The event, co-hosted by FGV Rio Law and Yale Law School, provided a platform for discussions on the challenges and necessary reforms to improve the Brazilian civil justice system, as well as a comparative perspective to the American system.
The keynote address was delivered by Luís Roberto Barroso, president of the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil, as he underscored the urgent need for civil justice reform, emphasizing procedural inefficiencies, access to justice issues, and potential reforms to enhance fairness and efficiency.
Later on, Renata Mota Maciel, a State Judge from São Paulo, presented her insights on the financial barriers that litigants face, followed by comments of Yale Law School Professor Judith Resnik, who provided a comparative perspective between the American and the Brazilian civil justice system.
In the second part of the event, Professor Flávio Yarshell, from the University of São Paulo, and Yale Law School Professor Abbe Gluck, discussed how legal practices in Brazil have evolved, particularly in relation to international litigation.
In the afternoon, FGV Rio Law Professor and Yale Visiting Researcher, Wilson Pimentel, addressed the role of costs and information in ensuring effective civil justice. His presentation was followed by insights from Yale Law School Professor Sarath Sanga.
Another key discussion centered on structural injunctions in Brazil, as Professor Edilson Vitorelli, Appellate Judge of the Brazilian Federal Court of Appeals for the 6th region, analyzed their significance in addressing systemic issues. Thereafter, Yale Law School Professor Owen Fiss commented on the challenges of implementing such measures.
Finally, FGV Rio Law Professor Fabiano Robalinho, Professor Ana Paula de Barcellos, from the Rio de Janeiro State University, and Rita Nolasco, National Treasury Attorney, explored the adjudication of Brazilian cases in foreign courts, revisiting the concept of personal jurisdiction.