Structural litigation in Brazilian constitutional jurisdiction: a study in light of the Ius Constitutionale Commune Latino-Americano

Abstract

Complex issues, such as structural discrimination, often require structural judicial measures, typically applied to resolve structural litigation. These cases raise concerns about how the judicial handling of such processes has been conducted within the Brazilian legal context. In this context, the objective is to determine whether the incorporation of the structural litigation perspective into Brazilian legal practice has led to changes in the judicial procedures for addressing and resolving structural issues by the Supreme Federal Court, as well as to analyze the procedural rules adopted by the Supreme Federal Court in adjudicating structural litigation within its jurisdiction. To this end, a deductive approach, analytical procedural method, and jurisprudential and bibliographic research techniques were employed. It is concluded that, to provide qualified responses to the structural issues adjudicated by the Supreme Federal Court, specialized units specifically aimed at identifying and addressing these types of demands have been established. Concerning jurisprudence, it can be observed that it is increasingly common to recognize the structural bias of cases brought before the STF, moving towards the development of a leading case in structural litigation within the jurisprudence of the highest Brazilian court.