Venice Commission of the Council of Europe

Judge Councillor, Supreme Court of Justice, Former President of the Supreme Court and of the High Judicial Council

• Born in September 1949, Pampilhosa da Serra, District of Coimbra, Portugal
• Secondary level studies at the Grammar School in Coimbra – 1959-1966;
• University studies in Law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra – 1966-1971;
• Appointed as Magistrate of the Public Ministry in April 1972, with functions of prosecutor of criminal cases, on family and labour law on behalf of children and workers and other competencies: consumers protection and defense of relevant public interests before the courts of first instance, until September 1977;
• Appointed in September 1977 judge of the courts, after completing a six months training period, as required at the time;
• As a result of the new statutory law, appointed in December 1978 as magistrate of the Public Ministry to co-ordinate lower level magistrates at the courts of the district (Coimbra);
• Appointed in June 1981, as magistrate of the Public Ministry at the Court of Appeal of Coimbra;
• Promoted to the position of Deputy General Procurator; appointed member of the Consultative Council in the Office of the Procurator General, with competences to issue independent legal opinions about important State matters (March 1987- March 2003);
• In addition, in accumulation, performed the functions of Agent of Portugal in the former European Commission of Human Rights and in the European Court of Human Rights (1992-2003);
• Member of the Steering Committee on Human Rights (Council of Europe) from 1994 to 2003, and Member of the Bureau of the Committee (2001-2002);
• Elected in November 1997 by the General Assembly of the State Members, as member of the Unites Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT) 1998-2002;
• Appointed in March 2003 by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, Judge of the Supreme Court;
• Elected in March 2006, by the judges of the Court, Vice-President of the Supreme Court, and re-elected for a second term in April 2009;
• Elected in July 2013 President of the Supreme Court, and by inherence President of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, for a unique term of five years
• Vice-President of the Network of Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the Member States of the European Union in the mandates 2015-2016 and 2017-2018.
• Participation in several Conferences, Colloquia, Meetings and Congresses at national and international level;
• Speaker on scientific events held by Courts, Universities, Bar Association, Law Associations, Associations of Judges and civil society;
• Author of articles published in several law reviews;
• Published the book “Justiça, Reflexões Fora do Lugar-comum” (2010); co-author of the “Código de Processo Penal, Comentário” (2014 e 2016);
• Retired Judge of the Supreme Court (since October 2018).