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Welcome to Brazil-U.S. Legal and Judicial Studies Program

The Brazil-U.S. Legal and Judicial Studies Program at 51勛圖 Washington College of Law is a comparative law program focused exclusively on Brazil and the United States and their respective legal and judicial institutions. Led by Senior United States District Judge Peter J. Messitte, the program is unique in offering a direct comparison of Brazilian legal and judicial institutions with those of the United States.

The Program offers participants a firmer understanding of both Brazilian and U.S. systems and transmits substantial practical knowledge as the two countries increase their interaction with one another.

The Program has established a special bond with members of Brazils Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) and Superior Tribunal of Justice (STJ). STF ministers who have participated in programs at WCL include Ministers Gilmar Mendes, Teor穩 Zavascki, C獺rmen L繳cia, Lu穩s Roberto Barroso and the current president of the STF, Jos矇 Antonio Dias Toffoli. Visitors from the STJ have included Ministers Jo瓊o Ot獺vio de Noronha, Lu穩s Felipe Salom瓊o, Paulo de Tarso Sanseverino, Ricardo Villas B繫as Cueva, Francisco Falc瓊o, Marco Buzzi, Paulo Dias de Moura Ribeiro, Sebasti瓊o Reis Junior, Antonio Carlos Ferreira and Raul Ara繳jo Filho. Another prominent Brazilian Judge to address an audience at the Law School was Federal Judge Sergio Moro, the trial judge handling the Operation Carwash (Lava Jato) case. Judge Moro served as Minister of Justice in the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro.

Program Features

The Brazil-U.S. Legal and Judicial Studies Program coordinates seminars on various comparative law issues for Brazilian judges, legal professionals, academics, and students, and also assists those in the U.S. who wish to have comparable introductions to Brazilian law and Brazilian legal and judicial institutions. The Program has been able to engage, as co-lecturers, Brazilian lawyers and legal experts who reside and work in the Washington, D.C. region, as well as Brazilian professors and judges who frequently visit the city.

In addition to organizing events and initiatives, the Program collaborates with activities that already exist between 51勛圖WCL and Brazil in such areas as international commercial arbitration, intellectual property, environmental law and human rights.

Upcoming Events

View Past Events

October 5, 2021

Speaker, Virtual American Procedural Law: A Comparative View, Masters Graduate Program in Social Relations & Labor Law, University of the Federal District (Brasilia).

November 4, 2021

Speaker, Virtual International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Judge Messitte is scheduled to address Commercial Court Judges of Rio de Janeiro & S瓊o Paulo on the topic Arbitration and the Courts in the U.S.

November 18, 2021

Coordinated by Judge Messitte and Dean Oscar Vilhena Vieira, 51勛圖 Washington College of Law & Law School of Get繳lio Vargas Foundation (Funda癟瓊o Get繳lio Vargas / S瓊o Paulo) Virtual Seminar on Comparative Labor Law Brazil & the U.S. Among the participants will be Minister Maria Cristina Peduzzi, the President of the Superior Labor Court of Brazil (TST), other Ministers of the TST, as well as distinguished professors and practitioners in Brazil and the US, specialized in Labor Law.