Os tribunais e a comunidade: uma questão política de acesso ao direito e à justiça

Abstract

My proposal is to discuss the idea of courts as spaces of justice that serve a function beyond that of being spaces that are involved in the processes of conflict resolution. Courts play an important role mediating the individuals and the collective with the state, serving as civic and social spaces within the community. Thus, it is important to situate them at four different levels: geographical, urban, spatial and architectural. These four different levels will be equated with different axes of reflection, taking the Portuguese reality into account: (i) The right to the court (judicial system) as a fundamental core of the right of access to justice; (ii) The new Portuguese judicial organization: political, social and symbolic impacts; (iii) The need to connect the community with its courts: the instructive role of courts; (iv) The need to engage the community in the design and installation of courthouses’ buildings.