La puissance des faits qui sont tus : la Cour suprême du Canada et l'expulsion vers la torture

Dans Suresh c. Canada (Ministre de la Citoyenneté et de l'Immigration) (2002), la Cour suprême du Canada en vient à la conclusion que les principes de justice fondamentale prévus à l'm1icle 7 de la Charte canadienne des droits et libertés autorisent, dans des circonstances exceptionnelles, l'expulsion d'une personne vers la torture. La Cour nous indique que l'identification des principes de justice fondamentale doit se fonder sur une démarche contextuelle et sur un consensus dans la société canadienne. Le fondement factuel dans le raisonnement de la Cour est pourtant inexistant. Elle ne traite ni du contexte en matière d'immigration, ni du contexte en matière de sécurité nationale entourant cette décision. La Cour prescrit un haut degré de retenue pour le contrôle judiciaire de la décision du Ministre de la Citoyenneté et de l'Immigration d'expulser une personne vers la torture. Cette retenue explique en partie le traitement déficient des faits. La Cour conclut qu'il y aurait un consensus dans la société canadienne sur le principe de justice fondamentale qui autorise l'expulsion d'une personne vers la torture sans fournir la preuve de ce fait social. L'absence de traitement des faits et de la preuve affecte la légitimité – la force persuasive - de la décision de la Cour suprême dans Suresh.

Justice constitutionnelle et subsidiarité : l'apport de l'expérience canadienne pour la construction européenne

La précision des critères d’application du principe de subsidiarité et le développement de son contrôle par les institutions politiques constituent un progrès vers un plus grand respect de ce principe ; ces avancées restent néanmoins insuffisantes à en prévenir toute violation. En droit canadien, le problème est similaire, la précision des critères de la clause Paix, Ordre et Bon Gouvernement et de la clause de commerce, si utile qu’elle soit, ne permet pas d’éviter tout conflit de loi. L’étude de la jurisprudence de la Cour de Justice montre ses réticences à procéder à un contrôle allant au-delà de la recherche d’une motivation formelle de la nécessité de l’intervention européenne. Pourtant, la comparaison de la capacité à agir des différents niveaux de gouvernements, capacité à agir évoluant dans le temps, ne peut se faire sans référence au contexte d’application de la norme. La Cour de Justice pourrait comme la Cour Suprême du Canada, expliciter dans ses décisions son appréciation de la capacité à agir de chaque niveau de gouvernement. La subsidiarité éclaire sous un jour nouveau la clause de commerce ou la doctrine de l’intérêt national, jusqu’alors parfois perçues comme permettant un développement constant et unilatéral des compétences fédérales au détriment de celles des provinces. L’efficacité du contrôle du principe de subsidiarité ne dépend pas seulement de la Cour qui le met en œuvre mais peut aussi dépendre des institutions politiques l’ayant saisi, de l’argumentation des requérants en particuliers.

Princípio da insignificância em matéria penal: entre aceitação ampla e aplicação problemática

Este artigo busca analisar o princípio da insignificância em matéria penal, e refletir acerca da melhor forma de operacionalizá-lo dogmaticamente. Após uma introdução que trata brevemente do contexto do surgimento desse princípio, o texto apresenta as principais concepções utilizadas pela doutrina e pela jurisprudência nacionais para aplicá-lo, com o objetivo de refletir sobre as vantagens e desvantagens sistemáticas e político-criminais inscritas em cada uma delas. Nesse plano, o artigo problematiza a principal formulação defendida pela doutrina nacional - segundo a qual a insignificância constitui espécie de cláusula de exclusão da "tipicidade material" da conduta analisada -, sugerindo que essa concepção pode estar na base de sérios equívocos cometidos por nossos tribunais no momento de definir se uma conduta é ou não penalmente insignificante. Ao final, o texto aponta os contornos gerais de uma formulação dogmática mais adequada para esse princípio, visando suprir as diversas dificuldades advindas da adoção da concepção majoritária sobre a matéria no Brasil.

L'autorité des obiter dicta de la Cour suprême

En 1980, la Cour suprême du Canada a rendu, dans l'arrêt Sellars, une décision qui a été interprétée par plusieurs juristes comme formulant un principe attribuant un effet contraignant à certains obiter dicta de la Cour. Autrefois limitée à la ratio decidendi, la portée obligatoire d'une décision de la Cour suprême s'étendrait dorénavant aux obiter dicta partagés par une majorité de juges. C'est, du moins, le principe qui a été reconnu et adopté par une majorité des cours d'appel canadiennes et par un nombre important de tribunaux inférieurs. Cette étude vise à retracer l'émergence de ce qu'on peut appeler «le principe Sellars». Ensuite, nous tentons d'isoler certains facteurs qui en expliqueraient l'apparition en droit canadien, pour, enfin, déterminer si, dorénavant, les obiter dicta de la Cour suprême doivent être traités comme des arguments d'autorité ou comme des diktats autoritaires.

Between Principle and Practicality: A Dynamic Realist Examination of Independence in the Canadian Justice System

This work examines independence in the Canadian justice system using an approach adapted from new legal realist scholarship called ‘dynamic realism’. This approach proposes that issues in law must be considered in relation to their recursive and simultaneous development with historic, social and political events. Such events describe ‘law in action’ and more holistically demonstrate principles like independence, rule of law and access to justice. My dynamic realist analysis of independence in the justice system employs a range methodological tools and approaches from the social sciences, including: historical and historiographical study; public administrative; policy and institutional analysis; an empirical component; as well as constitutional, statutory interpretation and jurisprudential analysis. In my view, principles like independence represent aspirational ideals in law which can be better understood by examining how they manifest in legal culture and in the legal system. This examination focuses on the principle and practice of independence for both lawyers and judges in the justice system, but highlights the independence of the Bar. It considers the inter-relation between lawyer independence and the ongoing refinement of judicial independence in Canadian law. It also considers both independence of the Bar and the Judiciary in the context of the administration of justice, and practically illustrates the interaction between these principles through a case study of a specific aspect of the court system. This work also focuses on recent developments in the principle of Bar independence and its relation to an emerging school of professionalism scholarship in Canada. The work concludes by describing the principle of independence as both conditional and dynamic, but rooted in a unitary concept for both lawyers and judges. In short, independence can be defined as impartiality, neutrality and autonomy of legal decision-makers in the justice system to apply, protect and improve the law for what has become its primary normative purpose: facilitating access to justice. While both independence of the Bar and the Judiciary are required to support access to independent courts, some recent developments suggest the practical interactions between independence and access need to be the subject of further research, to better account for both the principles and the practicalities of the Canadian justice system.

Inter-American Court, Crimes Against Humanity and Peacebuilding in South America

The present work contains a general overview of the sentences of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR), which have recognised that crimes against humanity are pre-existing in customary law, and do not prescribe, nor can they be subject to amnesty or pardon. Specific attention is paid to the consequent restrictions and opportunities offered by said verdicts to countries such as Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Peru, which find themselves in postconflict transition processes and where peace has been negotiated with certain groups and state structures that are responsible for carrying out crimes against humanity. In doing so, special attention is paid to the impact of the recognition of the nature of crimes against humanity on the notion of the principle of legality, stricto sensu; on the development and evolution of the doctrine and the practice of international human rights law in the inter-American context; and finally on the aforementioned processes of transitional justice.

Transformaciones y evolución de las fuentes del derecho administrativo colombiano a partir de los tratados de integración

Esta tesis producto del trabajo de investigación se planteo sobre las bases de un derecho administrativo interno creado para resolver los problemas suscitados al interior del Estado en consonancia con los postulados constitucionales, teniendo en cuenta el artículo 4° en que se establece la supremacía de la Constitución y los artículo 9°, 93, 94 y 224 al 227 que ordenan el desarrollo del derecho de integración en el marco de los países Latinoamericanos y del Caribe, por lo que surge la imperiosa necesidad de armonizar el derecho de la integración con el ordenamiento jurídico nacional y en especial con el derecho administrativo quien deberá recepcionar el mencionado ordenamiento supraestatal, alterando las tradicionales concepciones de las fuentes de este derecho interno. Por lo tanto, desde la perspectiva del derecho administrativo comprendido como un derecho legislado que regula las relaciones entre el Estado y los particulares en el que prevalece el “principio de legalidad” de los actos administrativos, se puede intuir que constituye un problema jurídico los impactos derivados de los tratados de integración, donde nos preguntamos sí las categorías de fuentes actuales del derecho administrativo son las adecuadas para abordar la recepción de estas disposiciones Por lo que al explorara las incidencias en el derecho administrativo con ocasión de la recepción del derecho de integración con particular énfasis en la Comunidad Andina, identificamos que uno de los rasgos más distintivos del ordenamiento jurídico andino, como el de otros esquemas de integración, proviene del discutido concepto de supranacionalidad. Dentro de la teoría jurídica contemporánea la comprensión de este término trae una novísima concepción que al mismo tiempo es respetuosa de la soberanía interna de los Estados miembros, la cual permite el surgimiento del nuevo ente común donde es posible la distribución de competencias en la reglamentación de ciertos ámbitos entre autoridades multilaterales y nacionales, conservando su propia autonomía. Este concepto ha permitido que en el ordenamiento comunitario andino, a semejanza de lo que acontece en el derecho interno de los Estados, exista un sistema de control de las normas jurídicas garantizado por una jurisdicción contenciosa-administrativa ejercida a través del Tribunal de Justicia de la Comunidad Andina. Lo que en definitiva incide en el derecho administrativo interno al encontramos frente a ordenamientos independientes, como lo son los del derecho de integración, en los que se producen, aplican y ejecutan normas según las reglas de juego adoptadas para ese efecto por los Estados miembros, que dependerán del marco del proceso de integración y su armonización con las normas internas. Es por ello, que en el resultado final de esta tesis se constata la aparición de nuevas fuentes de legalidad, donde ya no sólo se contemplará la ley y la jurisprudencia, ésta última posicionada con el devenir del tiempo debido a su pertinencia, como lo podemos contrastar con la expedición del Nuevo Código de Procedimiento Contencioso Administrativo (L. 1437/11) que aún no ha entrado en vigencia, en donde se resalta la importancia del Precedente Judicial a partir de las sentencias de unificación del Consejo de Estado. Pero más allá, de este nuevo reconocimiento legislativo, el sistema de fuentes establecido se verá alterado en su jerarquía con el derecho que nace con ocasión de los tratados de integración, lo que aún no se refleja en este nuevo Código, el cual no prevé la aplicación de las nuevas fuentes de legalidad.

Contratación atípica en el sector central de la administración pública colombiana (ministerios y departamentos administrativos)

El Estatuto General de Contratación colombiano (Ley 80 de 1993 y normas que lo aclaran, complementan y desarrollan), como desarrollo de los artículos 4 y 209 de la Constitución Política y como ejemplo de la implantación de nuevas maneras de entender el derecho administrativo, habilita a las entidades estatales sujetas al estatuto general de contratación, en aras de alcanzar sus fines constitucionales y legales, para acudir a contratos del derecho privado, plasmados en normas especiales y aquellos derivados del ejercicio de la autonomía de la voluntad, sin que ello se oponga al principio de legalidad, piedra angular del derecho público. No obstante esta autorización legal expresa, el uso de contratos atípicos es muy limitado.

Neocolonialism and international law, with specific reference to customary counterterrorism obligations and the principle of self-defence

Has international law ever, and, if it has not, can it ever, truly freed itself from the strictures of neocolonialism and the drive by a privileged elite to dominate the world scene? This article begins by inquiring into the nature of neocolonialism and, in so doing, pays particular attention to the writings of former Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah. It then proceeds to determine how neocolonialist designs surface in international law today by briefly looking at two aspects of international law in particular, namely customary international law, with specific reference to the counterterrorism context, and the principle of self-defence. In the final analysis, this article argues for a necessary and eternal scepticism of international law and the agendas of its privileged gatekeepers. Like classic State power, it opens itself to, and often operates as, neocolonial overreach, and to quote Nkrumah, “[t]he cajolement, the wheedlings, the seductions and the Trojan horses of neo-colonialism must be stoutly resisted, for neo-colonialism is a latter-day harpy, a monster which entices its victims with sweet music.”

Participação administrativa processual na administração pública dialógica

The dissertation, which is based on the deductive method, by using general concepts of the theory of the administrative participation in the administrative process, addresses the importance of strengthening administrative and procedural activities of citizen involvement in public administration for the administrative consolidation of democracy in Brazil. The emergence of Administrative Law has particular importance for the understanding of its institutions and, of course, for the different fields of public administration. The authoritarian profile of this area of law still exists as a clear recollection of their origin, mainly based on a relationship of superiority of the state over the individuals. Indeed, does not even modern constitutionalism could print a true democracy administrative, since the constitutions were not properly observed by the Government. Furthermore, only the process of constitutionalization of administrative law legal relations took a more democratic profile. That is, the creation of an environment of dialogue with civil society is a recent achievement of the Brazilian government. As the administrative process involves dilemmas and solutions of state action, because it is revealed the expression government, the strengthening of institutions and principles related to the administrative procedure is important for role in making a more participatory relationship between state and citizen. Thus, administrative participation can be considered not only a mechanism of control and legitimacy of state action, but also for improvement and reduction of administrative costs, as a requirement of the principle of efficiency. The objective of this investigation is to assert as the administrative legal relation, the administrative legality, the administrative jurisdiction, the processuality administrative, the consensuality administrative and administrative justice, together with administrative participation, can contribute to a more democratic role of the Public Administration and, therefore, more dialogic and consolidator of the fundamental rights of citizens. Therefore, we highlight the importance of the administrative process and administrative participation as mechanisms for improving public policy and thus as a means of reducing administrative costs mediate the state

As responsabilidades decorrentes do desvio de poder na Administração Pública

Pós-graduação em Direito - FCHS

L'accertamento dei reati di guida in stato di ebbrezza e alterazione da droghe

La tesi affronta le questioni processuali connesse alla verifica dei reati di guida in stato di ebbrezza e di alterazione da droghe. La ricerca si sviluppa in tre direzioni. La prima parte studia la disciplina tedesca. L’analisi parte dalle norme sostanziali che definiscono le fattispecie incriminatrici contemplate dall’ordinamento osservato; s’interessa, poi, degli equilibri tra gli strumenti di captazione della prova utili ai reati in discorso ed il principio nemo tenetur se detegere (l’ estensione del diritto di difesa tedesco copre anche le prove reali e non prevede obblighi di collaborazione all’alcoltest). Prosegue, infine, con l’esame delle metodologie di acquisizione della prova, dall’etilometro agli screening per le droghe, sino al prelievo ematico coattivo, indispensabile per l’accertamento penale. La seconda sezione esamina gli artt. 186 e 187 del codice della strada italiano, alla luce del principio di libertà personale e del diritto a non autoincriminarsi. Particolarmente delicati gli equilibri rispetto a quest’ultimo: l’obbligatorietà di un atto potenzialmente autoaccusatorio è evitabile solo a pena di una severa sanzione. Occorre definire se il diritto di difesa copra anche il mero facere o garantisca il solo silenzio. Se si ammette, infatti, che il nemo tenetur sia applicabile anche alle prove reali, la collaborazione obbligatoria imposta al conducente è scelta incompatibile con il diritto di difesa: la disciplina italiana presenta, dunque, profili d’illegittimità costituzionale. La terza parte riguarda le problematiche processuali poste dai controlli stradali che emergono dall’analisi della giurisprudenza. Si affrontano, così, le diverse vicende della formazione della prova: ci si interroga sull’istituto processuale cui ricondurre gli accertamenti, sulle garanzie di cui goda il guidatore durante e dopo l’espletamento dell’atto, sulle eventuali sanzioni processuali derivanti da una violazione delle predette garanzie. Si esaminano, infine, le regole di apprezzamento della prova che guidano il giudice nella delicata fase valutativa.

Administrative regulation, a study in representation of interests,

Mode of access: Internet.

Social Security : production initiatives in OHA's Region V comply with law and guidelines : briefing report to the chairman, Subcommittee on Social Security, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives /

"B-242410"--P. 1

See you in Geneva? Democracy, the Rule of Law and the WTO (Working Paper 16)

This paper is a constructivist attempt to understand a global political space where states as actors (the traditional domain of international relations theory and international law) are joined by international organizations, firms, NGOs, and others. Today we know that many supposedly private or international orders (meaning sources of order other than the central institutions of the territorial state) are engaged in the regulation of large domains of collective life in a world where the sources of power are multiple, sovereignties are overlapping, and anarchy is meaningless. The paper begins with an attempt, discussed in the first section, to sort out what the rule of law might mean in the context of the WTO, where we soon see that it can only be understood by also considering the meaning of Administrative Law. Much of the debate about rule of law depends on positivist and centralist theories of “law,” whose inadequacy for my purposes leads, in the second section, to a discussion of legal pluralism and implicit law in legal theory. These approaches offer an alternative theoretical framework that respects the role of the state while not seeing it as the only source of normativity. The third section looks directly at WTO law and dispute settlement. I tr y to show that the sources and interpretations of law in the WTO and the trading system cannot be reduced to the Dispute Settlement Body. I conclude in the fourth section with some suggestions on how a WTO rule of law could be understood as democratic.