The Jury Court is one of the most traditional institutions of Brazilian Justice and plays a fundamental role in the trial of so-called intentional crimes against life, such as homicide, feminicide, infanticide and abortion. Provided for in the Federal Constitution, it differs from other courts in that it has the direct participation of society: ordinary citizens decide on the conviction or acquittal of the defendant. Marcelo Galvão Advocacia e Assessoria Jurídica Disclosure On Lawyer's Day, celebrated on August 11, experts highlight that the functioning of the Jury Court depends not only on the actions of the Public Prosecutor's Office, responsible for the accusation, but also on the work of the defense, which ensures the constitutional right to adversarial proceedings and full defense. According to lawyer Marcelo Galvão, the presence of a defender does not represent support for the crime, but a guarantee provided for in the Democratic Rule of Law. "The lawyer does not defend the crime. He defends the right of every person to be judged within the rules established by the Constitution, with respect for due legal process and fundamental guarantees." How does the Jury Court work? In Jury Court trials, previously registered citizens are summoned to serve as jurors. On the day of the session, 25 jurors are called and seven of them are chosen to form the Sentencing Council. These are the people who answer the questions presented during the trial and decide on the guilt or innocence of the accused. Marcelo Galvão Advocacia e Assessoria Jurídica Disclosure The responsible judge conducts the session and applies the sentence according to the answers given by the jurors. In addition to the Public Prosecutor's Office and the defendant's defense, there may also be so-called qualified assistance to the prosecution, when the victim's family members hire a lawyer to work alongside the prosecution during the trial. The importance of defense For Marcelo Galvão, one of the biggest mistakes is automatically associating the lawyer with the client's behavior. "There is a very clear difference between defending a person and agreeing with what they did. The lawyer's role is to ensure that no conviction takes place without respecting the evidence, the adversary system and the rights provided for by law." According to him, the work of the defense also helps to avoid abuses during the investigation and ensure that all evidence presented in the process was obtained legally. A role provided for in the Constitution The Federal Constitution guarantees that everyone has the right to full defense and a contradictory hearing, regardless of the accusation they face. In practice, this means that any citizen subjected to criminal proceedings must have access to legal assistance and a trial carried out in accordance with legal standards. "The lawyer plays an essential role in the functioning of Justice. Defending due legal process means protecting rights that belong to the entire society", says Marcelo Galvão. Justice and popular participation In addition to the work of legal professionals, the Jury Court also represents an important mechanism for popular participation in the Brazilian Justice system. Marcelo Galvão Advocacia e Assessoria Jurídica Disclosure By allowing ordinary citizens to participate in decisions in cases involving crimes against life, the model seeks to bring society and institutions closer together and reinforce the legitimacy of trials. For experts, the balance between accusation, defense and the jury's decision is one of the pillars of the Jury Court and contributes to the trial being conducted within the constitutional principles of impartiality, legality and broad defense. Visit the official website of Marcelo Galvão Advocacia e Assessoria Jurídica to find out more. Responsible lawyer - Marcelo Galvão - OAB: 183.579/SP