I am Professor of Law at the University of São Paulo Law School. I received my doctoral degree in Law from the University of Kiel, Germany (2002) and my habilitation degree (“Livre-Docência”) from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. I was a research fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Comparative Public Law and International Law (Heidelberg, 2004 and 2005) and at the Humboldt University of Berlin (2010 and 2012). I have published articles on balancing, proportionality, socioeconomic rights, deliberation in courts, and electoral systems in several academic journals in Brazil and abroad. From 2016 until 2020 I was head of the Department of Public Law of the University of São Paulo.
Selected publications
[for a complete list, with online access to texts, click on the publications tab]
Articles
- “Deciding without deliberating“, ICON – International Journal of Constitutional Law 11 (2013): 557-584.
- “Comparing the Incommensurable: Constitutional Principles, Balancing and Rational Decision“, Oxford Journal of Legal Studies 31 (2011): 273-301.
- “Claiming the Right to Health in Brazilian Courts: The Exclusion of the Already Excluded?“, Law & Social Inquiry 36 (2011): 825-853 (co-authored with Fernanda Vargas Terrazas).
- “Duverger’s Laws: Between Social and Institutional Determinism“, European Journal of Political Research 45 (2006): 31-41.
- “O proporcional e o razoável“, Revista dos Tribunais 798 (2002): 23-50.
Books
- Direito constitucional brasileiro. São Paulo: Edusp, 2021. sample
- The Constitution of Brazil: a contextual analysis. Oxford: Hart, 2019. sample
- Direitos fundamentais: conteúdo essencial, restrições e eficácia. 2. ed. São Paulo: Malheiros, 2010.
- Grundrechte und gesetzgeberische Spielräume. Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2003.
2024
Balancing may be everywhere, but the proportionality test is not Journal Article
In: Global Constitutionalism, vol. 13, iss. 3, pp. 519-534, 2024.
2022
Transformation and its limits: proportionality, courts, and social rights in Brazil Book Section
In: Francisca Pou-Giménez; Esteban Restrepo; Laura Clérico (Ed.): Proportionality and transformation: theory and practice from Latin America, pp. 205-219, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2022.
The constitution of Brazil in context: history, politics, and design Book Section
In: Conrado Hübner Mendes; Roberto Gargarella (Ed.): The Oxford Handbook of Constitutional Law in Latin America, pp. 57–78, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2022, ISBN: 978-0-19-878690-0.
Standing in the shadows of balancing: proportionality and the necessity test Journal Article
In: ICON - International Journal of Constitutional Law, vol. 20, iss. 5, pp. 1738-1767, 2022, ISSN: 1474-2640.
2021
Pauta, público, princípios e precedentes: condicionantes e consequências da prática deliberativa do STF Journal Article
In: Suprema - Revista de Estudos Constitucionais, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 22-56, 2021, ISSN: 2763-7867.
Direito constitucional brasileiro Book
Edusp, São Paulo, 2021, ISBN: 978-65-5785-005-3.
2020
The gender gap in Brazilian politics and the role of the electoral court Journal Article
In: Politics & Gender, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 409–437, 2020.
La eutanasia en el derecho brasileño Book Section
In: Diego Valadés; Laura Telles Garita (Ed.): Régimen jurídico de la eutanasia: panorama internacional, pp. 51–63, Inacipe/Tirant lo Blanch, México, 2020.
2019
The Constitution of Brazil: a contextual analysis Book
Hart, Oxford, 2019, ISBN: 978-1-84946-535-9.
2018
Beyond Europe and the United States: the wide world of judicial review Book Section
In: Erin F Delaney; Rosalind Dixon (Ed.): Comparative Judicial Review, pp. 318-336, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2018, ISBN: 978-1-78811-059-4.
Big Brother is watching the court: effects of TV broadcasting on judicial deliberation Journal Article
In: Verfassung und Recht und Übersee, vol. 51, no. 2, pp. 437-455, 2018, ISSN: 05067286.
Constitutional courts / supreme courts, general Book Section
In: Rainer Grote; Frauke Lachenmann; Rudiger Wolfrum (Ed.): Max Planck encyclopedia of comparative constitutional law, pp. 1–10, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2018, ISBN: 978-0-19-066099-4.
2017
Do we deliberate? If so, how? Journal Article
In: European Journal of Legal Studies, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 209–240, 2017.
Making Brazil work: checking the president in a multiparty system Journal Article
In: ICON - International Journal of Constitutional Law, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 519–525, 2017, ISSN: 1474-2640, 1474-2659.
Global South: an introduction Journal Article
In: This Century's Review, vol. 2, pp. 52–55, 2017, ISSN: 21953422.
2016
O Supremo Tribunal Federal precisa de Iolau: resposta às objeções de Marcelo Neves ao sopesamento e à otimização Journal Article
In: Revista Direito.UnB, vol. 2, pp. 96–118, 2016.
The Brazilian Supreme Court needs Iolaus: a reply to Marcelo Neves’ objections to balancing and optimization Journal Article
In: Revista Direito.UnB, vol. 2, pp. 96–117, 2016.
O relator dá voz ao STF? Uma réplica a Almeida e Bogossian Journal Article
In: Revista Estudos Institucionais, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 648–669, 2016.
2015
Um voto qualquer? O papel do ministro relator na deliberação no Supremo Tribunal Federal Journal Article
In: Revista Estudos Institucionais, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 180–200, 2015, ISSN: 2447-5467.
De quem divergem os divergentes: os votos vencidos no Supremo Tribunal Federal Journal Article
In: Direito, Estado e Sociedade, vol. 47, pp. 205–225, 2015, ISSN: 1516-6104.
Ideias e instituições constitucionais do século XX no Brasil: o papel dos juristas Journal Article
In: Revista Brasileira de Estudos Políticos, vol. 111, pp. 229–245, 2015, ISSN: 2359-5736, 0034-7191.
2014
How global is global constitutionalism? Comments on Kai Moller's The Global Model of Constitutional Rights Journal Article
In: Jerusalem Review of Legal Studies, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 175–186, 2014.
Novos amigos da corte: amicus curiae e extensão universitária em direito Book Section
In: Flávia Piovesan; Inês Virginia Prado Soares (Ed.): Direitos humanos atual, pp. 179–198, Elsevier, Rio de Janeiro, 2014.
Maurice Duverger Book Section
In: Michael T Gibbons (Ed.): The Encyclopedia of Political Thought, pp. 984–986, Wiley, Oxford, 2014.
La unión entre personas del mismo género: ¿Cuán importantes son los textos y las instituciones? Journal Article
In: Discusiones, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 171–203, 2014.
2013
Deciding without deliberating Journal Article
In: ICON - International Journal of Constitutional Law, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 557–584, 2013.
A continuum of electoral systems? (or, why law and legislation need typologies) Journal Article
In: The Theory and Practice of Legislation, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 227–253, 2013.
Historinhas (irrelevantes) sobre as constituições brasileiras Journal Article
In: Novos Estudos - CEBRAP, no. 96, pp. 173–179, 2013, ISSN: 0101-3300.
Der Vergleich des Inkommensurablen: Prinzipien, Abwägung und rationale Entscheidung Book Section
In: Matthias Klatt (Ed.): Prinzipientheorie und Theorie der Abwägung, pp. 236–270, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, 2013.
Na encruzilhada liberdade-autoridade: a tensão entre direitos fundamentais e interesses coletivos Book Section
In: Fernando Dias Menezes de Almeida; Floriano Azevedo de Marques Neto; Luiz Felipe H Miguel; Victor Rhein Schirato (Ed.): Direito público em evolução: estudos em homenagem à professora Odete Medauar, pp. 735–747, Forum, Belo Horizonte, 2013.
2012
Do treaties matter? Beth Simmons' Mobilizing for Human Rights: International Law in Domestic Politics Journal Article
In: German Law Journal, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 76–86, 2012.
Discovering the court: or, how rights awareness puts the Brazilian Supreme Court in the spotlight Journal Article
In: This Century's Review, vol. 1, pp. 16–20, 2012.

Verfassung und Verfassungsgericht: Deutschland und Brasilien im Vergleich Book
Nomos, Baden-Baden, 2012, ISBN: 978-3-8329-5547-2 3-8329-5547-X.
Direitos fundamentais e liberdades legislativas: o papel dos princípios formais Book Section
In: Fernando Alves Correia; Jónatas Machado; João Carlos Loureiro (Ed.): Estudos em homenagem ao Prof. Doutor José Joaquim Gomes Canotilho, vol. III, pp. 915–937, Coimbra Editora, Coimbra, 2012.
Schiedsrichter und Spieler: Die Rolle des STF im Prozess der Demokratisierung in Brasilien Book Section
In: Rainer Schmidt; Virgílio Afonso da Silva (Ed.): Verfassung und Verfassungsgericht: Deutschland und Brasilien im Vergleich, pp. 25–42, Nomos, Baden-Baden, 2012, ISBN: 978-3-8329-5547-2 3-8329-5547-X.
Apresentação Book Section
In: Adriana de Moraes Vojvodic; Henrique Motta Pinto; Paula Gorzoni; Rodrigo Pagani de Souza (Ed.): Jurisdição constitucional no Brasil, pp. 9, SBDP/Malheiros, São Paulo, 2012.
2011
Control del Poder Judicial, ponderación y objetividad en la interpretación constitucional Book Section
In: Peter Häberle; Domingo García Belaunde (Ed.): El control del poder : homenaje a Diego Valadés, vol. 1, pp. 549–568, UNAM, México, 2011, ISBN: 978-607-02-1989-4.
Ponderação e objetividade na interpretação constitucional Book Section
In: Ronaldo Macedo Jr.; Catarina Barbieri (Ed.): Direito e interpretação: racionalidades e instituições, pp. 363–380, Saraiva, São Paulo, 2011.
Comparing the incommensurable: constitutional principles, balancing and rational decision Journal Article
In: Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 273–301, 2011.

Teoría de los principios, competencias para la ponderación y separación de poderes Book Section
In: Jan-R. Sieckmann (Ed.): La teoría principialista de los derechos fundamentales: Estudios sobre la teoría de los derechos fundamentales de Robert Aley, pp. 243–259, Marcial Pons, Madrid, 2011.
Claiming the right to health in Brazilian courts: the exclusion of the already excluded? Journal Article
In: Law & Social Inquiry, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 825–853, 2011, ISSN: 1747-4469.
Derechos sociales como mandatos de optimización, su subjetivización y justiciabilidad un análisis empírico Book Section
In: Laura Clérico; Jan-R. Sieckmann; Daniel Oliver-Lalana (Ed.): Derechos fundamentales, principios y argumentación: estudios sobre la teoría jurídica de Robert Alexy, pp. 199–218, Comares, Granada, 2011.
Ideas e instituciones constitucionales del siglo XX en Brasil Book Section
In: Diego Valadés; José Gamas Torruco; Éric Millard; François Julien-Laferrière (Ed.): Ideas e instituciones constitucionales en el siglo XX, pp. 517–525, Siglo XXI/UNAM, México, 2011, ISBN: 978-607-03-0324-1 607-03-0324-5.
Transição e direito: culpa, punição, memória Book Section
In: Helmut Galle; Rainer Schmidt (Ed.): A memória e as ciências humanas, pp. 87–106, Humanitas/DAAD/CM, São Paulo, 2011.
Principios y reglas: mitos y equívocos acerca de una distinción Book Section
In: Gustavo A Beade; Laura Clérico (Ed.): Desafíos a la ponderación, pp. 115–155, Universidad Externado de Colombia, Bogotá, 2011.
2010
Integração e diálogo constitucional na América do Sul Book Section
In: Armin von Bogdandy; Flávia Piovesan; Mariela Morales Antoniazzi (Ed.): Direitos humanos, democracia e integração jurídica na América do Sul, pp. 515–530, Lumen Juris, Rio de Janeiro, 2010.
Quem sou eu para discordar de um ministro do STF? O ensino do direito entre argumento de autoridade e livre debate de ideias Journal Article
In: Revista Direito GV, vol. 11, pp. 95–118, 2010.
Colisões de direitos fundamentais entre ordem nacional e ordem transnacional Book Section
In: Marcelo Neves (Ed.): Em torno da transnacionalidade do direito: novas perspectivas dos conflitos entre ordens jurídicas, pp. 101–112, Quartier Latin, São Paulo, 2010.
Federalismo e articulação de competências no Brasil Book Section
In: Guy Peters; Jon Pierre (Ed.): Administração pública: coletânea, pp. 549–570, ENAP/UNESP, Brasília/São Paulo, 2010.
2009
O STF e o controle de constitucionalidade: deliberação, diálogo e razão pública Journal Article
In: Revista de Direito Administrativo, vol. 250, pp. 197–227, 2009.
Os direitos fundamentais e a lei: a constituição brasileira tem um sistema de reserva legal? Book Section
In: Cláudio Pereira Souza Neto; Daniel Sarmento; Gustavo Binenbojm (Ed.): Vinte anos da Constituição Federal de 1988, pp. 605–618, Lumen Juris, Rio de Janeiro, 2009.
Supremo Tribunal Federal Book Section
In: Eduardo Ferrer Mac-Gregor (Ed.): Crónica de tribunales constitucionales en Iberoamérica, pp. 85–106, Marcial Pons/UNAM, Buenos Aires/México, 2009.
Terrorism and the law: what can an emergency constitution do? Book Section
In: Samir Kumar Das; Rada Ivecovic (Ed.): Terror, Terrorism, States & Societies, pp. 137–148, Women Unlimited, New Delhi, 2009.
Presidencialismo y federalismo en Brasil: los desencuentros entre política y derecho Book Section
In: Andrew Ellis; Jesús Orozco Henríquez; Daniel Zovatto (Ed.): Cómo hacer que funcione el sistema presidencial / Making Presidentialism Work, pp. 291–310, UNAM/IDEA International, México, 2009.
In: Laura Clérico; Jan-Reinard Sieckmann (Ed.): Grundrechte, Prinzipien und Argumentation, pp. 165–182, Nomos, Baden-Baden, 2009.
Direitos fundamentais: conteúdo essencial, restrições e eficácia Book
Malheiros, São Paulo, 2009.
2008
O Judiciário e as políticas públicas: entre transformação social e obstáculo à realização dos direitos sociais Book Section
In: Cláudio Pereira Souza Neto; Daniel Sarmento (Ed.): Direitos sociais: fundamentos, judicialização e direitos sociais em espécie, pp. 587–599, Lumen Juris, Rio de Janeiro, 2008.
Habermas e a jurisdição constitucional Book Section
In: Marcos Nobre; Ricardo Terra (Ed.): Direito e democracia: um guia de leitura de Habermas, pp. 199–222, Malheiros, São Paulo, 2008.
A constitucionalização do direito: os direitos fundamentais nas relações entre particulares Book
Malheiros, São Paulo, 2008.
2007
The limits of constitutional law: public policies and the constitution Book Section
In: Gilles Tarabout; Ranabir Samaddar (Ed.): Conflict, Power, and the Landscape of Constitutionalism, pp. 167–181, Routledge, New Delhi/London, 2007.
Prinzipientheorie, Abwägungskompetenzen und Gewalteinteilung Book Section
In: Jan-R. Sieckmann (Ed.): Die Prinzipientheorie der Grundrechte: Studien zur Grundrechtstheorie Robert Alexys, pp. 215–230, Nomos, Baden-Baden, 2007.
2006
A presunção de constitucionalidade das leis, a interpretação conforme a constituição e o dogma da legislação negativa Journal Article
In: Direito (Lisboa), vol. 138, no. 1, pp. 39–60, 2006.
Duverger's laws: between social and institutional determinism Journal Article
In: European Journal of Political Research, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 31–41, 2006.
Interpretação conforme a constituição: entre a trivialidade e a centralização judicial Journal Article
In: Revista Direito GV, vol. 3, pp. 191–210, 2006.
O conteúdo essencial dos direitos fundamentais e eficácia das normas constitucionais Journal Article
In: Revista de Direito do Estado, vol. 4, pp. 23–51, 2006.
2005
La interpretación conforme a la constitución: entre la trivialidad y la centralización judicial Journal Article
In: Cuestiones Constitucionales, vol. 12, pp. 3–28, 2005.
Interpretação constitucional e sincretismo metodológico Book Section
In: Virgílio Afonso da Silva (Ed.): Interpretação constitucional, pp. 115–143, Malheiros, São Paulo, 2005.
Direitos fundamentais e relações entre particulares Journal Article
In: Revista Direito GV, vol. 1, pp. 173–180, 2005.
Partidos e reforma política Journal Article
In: Revista Brasileira de Direito Público, vol. 11, pp. 9–19, 2005.
A evolução dos direitos fundamentais Journal Article
In: Revista Latino-Americana de Estudos Constitucionais, vol. 6, pp. 541–558, 2005.
2004
A fossilised constitution? Journal Article
In: Ratio Juris, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 454–473, 2004, ISSN: 1467-9337.
2003
Grundrechte und gesetzgeberische Spielräume Book
Nomos, Baden-Baden, 2003.
Princípios e regras: mitos e equívocos acerca de uma distinção Journal Article
In: Revista Latino-Americana de Estudos Constitucionais, vol. 1, pp. 607–630, 2003.
2002
O proporcional e o razoável Journal Article
In: Revista dos Tribunais, vol. 798, pp. 23–50, 2002.
A regulamentação do sistema financeiro nacional: o art. 192 e o mito da lei complementar única Journal Article
In: Revista de Direito Mercantil Industrial, Econômico e Financeiro, vol. 127, pp. 79–92, 2002.
2001
In: Revista de Direito Administrativo, vol. 226, pp. 11–32, 2001.
1999
Sistemas eleitorais: tipos, efeitos jurídico-políticos e aplicação ao caso brasileiro Book
Malheiros, São Paulo, 1999.
1998
A inexistência de um sistema eleitoral misto e suas conseqüências na adoção do sistema alemão no Brasil Journal Article
In: Cadernos de Direito Constitucional e Ciência Política, vol. 23, pp. 238–243, 1998.
In the second term of 2023 (August – December) I offer the following courses at the Faculty of Law of the University of São Paulo:
Undergraduate courses
- Constitutional Law II: State Organization
Postgraduate courses
- Constitutional Theory: Contemporary Debates III
Previous terms
2024
Undergraduate courses
- Constitutional Law I: Fundamental Rights
Postgraduate courses
- Research Methods in Law (with Juliana Krueger Pela and Diogo R. Coutinho)
2023
Undergraduate courses
- Constitutional Law I: Fundamental Rights
- Constitutional Law II: State Organization
- Political and Electoral Systems
Postgraduate courses
- Research Methods in Law (with Sheila Neder, Diogo R. Coutinho, and Marcos Paulo Verissimo)
2022
Undergraduate courses
- Constitutional Law I: Fundamental Rights
- Constitutional Law II: State Organization
- Political and Electoral Systems
Postgraduate courses
- Research Methods in Law (with Sheila Neder and Diogo R. Coutinho)
2021
Undergraduate courses
- Constitutional Law I: Fundamental Rights
- Constitutional Law II: State Organization
- Political and Electoral Systems
2020
Undergraduate courses
- Constitutional Law I: Fundamental Rights
- Constitutional Law II: State Organization
- Political and Electoral Systems
2019
Undergraduate courses
- Constitutional Law I: Fundamental Rights
- Constitutional Law II: State Organization
- Readings in Constitutional Law III [in this course we discussed the following book: Niels Petersen, Proportionality and Judicial Activism: Fundamental Rights Adjudication in Canada, Germany and South Africa (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2017)]
Postgraduate courses
- Research Methods in Law (with Sheila Neder e Diogo R. Coutinho)
2018
[I was on sabbatical leave from August 2017 until June 2018]
Undergraduate courses
- Political and Electoral Systems
Postgraduate courses
- Constitutional Theory: Contemporary Debates I
2017
[I was on sabbatical leave from August 2017 until June 2018]
Undergraduate courses
- Fundamental Rights II
- Readings in de Constitutional Law III, período vespertino [in this course we discussed the following book: Francisco J. Urbina, A Critique of Proportionality and Balancing, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017)]
Postgraduate courses
- Research Methods in Law (with Diogo R. Coutinho and Rafael Mafei)
2016
Undergraduate courses
- Constitutional Law I
- Constitutional Law II
- Readings in de Constitutional Law IV [in this course we discussed the following books: Shaun Bowler & Todd Donovan, The Limits of Electoral Reform (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013), e Robert Elgie, Semi-Presidentialism: Sub-Types and Democratic Performance (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011)]
- Readings in Constitutional Law V [in this course we discussed the following books: César Rodríguez Garavito & Diana Rodríguez Franco, Juicio a la exclusión: El impacto de los tribunales sobre los derechos sociales en el Sur Global, Buenos Aires: Siglo Veintiuno, 2015 / English version: Radical Deprivation on Trial: The Impact of Judicial Activism on Socioeconomic Rights in the Global South, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 20115, and Ran Hirschl, Comparative Matters: The Renaissance of Comparative Constitutional Law, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014]
My research interests are constitutional interpreration, especially the proportionality test; fundamental rights (including socioeconomic rights); deliberation in supreme and constitutional courts; and political representation and electoral systems.
Current research grants
- Scholarship for distinguished researchers (level 1D), Brazilian Research Council – CNPq (grant #305420/2016-0).
- Research funding for the project Constitution, Rights, and Proportionality, São Paulo Research Foundation – Fapesp (grant #2018/19447-9)
At the Law School of the University of São Paulo I supervised research investigations in different levels: post-doctoral, doctoral, master and undergraduate researchers are currently working under my supervision.
Post-doctoral research
- Arthur Guerra Filho, Entre a propina e a doação política legítima: o Judiciário e o controle do financiamento da política (begin: 2021)
Doctoral dissertation
- Ana Laura Pereira Barbosa. Desenhando o controle de constitucionalidade: legitimidade democrática e política judicial (begin: 2021)
- Arthur El Horr. Teoria da mudança constitucional brasileira (begin: 2023)
- Bernardo Assef Pacola. Direitos fundamentais e os deveres constitucionais de particulares na teoria constitucional republicana (begin: 2024)
- Camilla Borges Martins Gomes. “Se eleito(a) for”: entraves ao direito de ser eleito no Brasil (begin: 2021)
- Cristiano de Jesus Pereira Nascimento. O papel dos assessores no processo decisório do Supremo Tribunal Federal (begin: 2020)
- Gabriela Cavalcante Gattulli. Com quantos colegiados se faz um Supremo? Os impactos do plenário virtual no processo decisório da Corte (begin: 2022)
- Luna van Brussel Barroso. Releitura da liberdade de expressão na era digital (begin: 2022)
Master thesis
- Laura Mastroianni Kirsztajn. O instituto do crime político na ordem constitucional de 1988: guardião da democracia ou herança da ditadura? (begin: 2022)
- Lucas Cavalcante Gondim. (Re)formular a liberdade de pensamento: estudo de caso a partir dos sistemas de estimulação cerebral profunda (begin: 2024)
- Sérgio Paranhos Kezen. Tribunais fortes, soluções fracas: o Supremo Tribunal Federal e as preferências restritivas em temas de direitos sociais (begin: 2022)
For past supervisions, see my CV at the Lattes platform of the Brazilian National Research Council (in Portuguese).