Habil.-Schrift Univ. Köln, 2007/2008.

Le Code civil permet à ceux qui souhaitent partager leur existence d'opter pour l'une des voies suivantes : vivre en concubinage, conclure un P.A.C.S. ou s'unir par le mariage. Tout à fait distinctes en 1999, ces trois formes de conjugalité sont de plus en plus souvent appréhendées de façon unitaire par la règle de droit, au point de pouvoir évoquer l'émergence d'un véritable droit commun des couples. Cette tendance à l'harmonisation, voire à l'uniformisation, a été clairement perçue par la doctrine et a été expliquée de plusieurs façons. Témoin d'une emprise des principes d'égalité et de non-discrimination pour les uns, ce droit commun s'expliquerait, pour d'autres, par la prise en compte de la seule communauté de vie. Ces explications nous ont toutefois semblé insatisfaisantes et c'est en observant les rapports entretenus entre couple et politique que cet élan unificateur nous a paru compréhensible: le droit commun des couples existe en raison de l'utilité qu'il présente pour la réalisation des fonctions étatiques, qu'il s'agisse de ses fonctions sociales ou économiques. De lege Lata, la règle de droit, moyen d'action du politique, ne reconnaît donc les couples unitairement que si cette appréhension est utile à l'Etat. Cette utilité est toutefois perçue ponctuellement, ce qui conduit à un droit commun lacunaire, construit par strates successives et incohérentes. Une réflexion d'ensemble sur l'utilité des couples pour la mise en œuvre des fonctions étatiques, associée à la défense essentielle d'une préservation · : du pluralisme, permettrait de reconstruire, de lege ferenda, un droit commun des couples plus cohérent et plus logique. / The civil code allows those who wish to share their lives to choose one of the following ways: to live a concubines, sign a P.A.C.S or to be united in marriage. Distinctly different from each other in 1999, these thee forms of union are more and more similar under the rule of law to the extent that a true common law for couples seems to have emerged. This trend towards harmonisation and standardisation was clearly perceived by the doctrine and was explained in several ways. Proof of the influence of the principles of equality and of non-discrimination for some, this common law would be explained by others as the taking into account of the only lifepartnership. These explanations seemed unsatisfactory to us and it was in observing the relations between couples and politics that this unifying momentum seemed comprehensible to us: the common law of couples exists due to the utility that it presents to establish state functions, whether they be social or economic. De lege lata, the rule of law, the means of political action only recognizes couples individually if this apprehension is useful to the State. This utility is perceived from time to time, which leads to a Jack of common law, built by successive and incoherent levels. A review of the usefulness of couples for the implementation of state functions, in association with the essential protection of the preservation of pluralism, would allow for the reconstruction, de lege ferenda, of a more coherent and more logical common law for couples.

A presente pesquisa pretende verificar a compatibilidade do ordenamento jurídico brasileiro com o sistema de precedentes; pretende apurar a viabilidade da introdução do stare decisis em sistema predominantemente de direito legislado. A análise parte de uma comparação histórica entre a tradição romano-canônica e o common law, a fim de identificar as origens, momentos de divergências e o atual estágio de aproximação, sob a ideia de que representam as tradições, em conjunto, uma grande tradição jurídica ocidental. A partir dessa origem histórica, a pesquisa avança à análise do perfil estrutural-funcional de cada uma das tradições, com a identificação dos instrumentos e dos métodos de aplicação do direito, além do perfil das respectivas interpretações jurídicas. Ainda, propõe-se a aferir a superação do paradigma racionalista, na faceta do paradigma ideológico, que afasta do Poder Judiciário do civil law o papel de participação ativa na criação de direito. Sob os avanços da teoria da interpretação jurídica e das novas funções atribuídas aos tribunais de vértice, a pesquisa busca ainda identificar uma norma constitucional que impõe a utilização de precedentes no direito brasileiro. / This research investigates the compatibility of the brazilian legal system with the doctrine of precedents; investigates the possibillity of introducing the stare decisis in a statutory legal system. The analysis starts from a historical comparison between the civil law and the common law traditions, in order to identify the origins, moments of divergences and the current stage of proximity, with the north that the traditions, together, represents a large western legal tradition. From this historical background, the research advances to the analysis of structural and functional profile of each of the traditions, identifying the instruments and the methods of application of law, besides the related legal interpretations theory. In addition, the research seeks to check the resilience of the rationalist paradigm, on the ideological fashion, that removes from the civil law’s judiciary any participation in the creation of law. Under the advances of the legal interpretation theory and the new tasks assigned to the superior courts, this research also seeks to identify a constitutional rule to impose the use of precedents in brazilian law.

A presente pesquisa pretende verificar a compatibilidade do ordenamento jurídico brasileiro com o sistema de precedentes; pretende apurar a viabilidade da introdução do stare decisis em sistema predominantemente de direito legislado. A análise parte de uma comparação histórica entre a tradição romano-canônica e o common law, a fim de identificar as origens, momentos de divergências e o atual estágio de aproximação, sob a ideia de que representam as tradições, em conjunto, uma grande tradição jurídica ocidental. A partir dessa origem histórica, a pesquisa avança à análise do perfil estrutural-funcional de cada uma das tradições, com a identificação dos instrumentos e dos métodos de aplicação do direito, além do perfil das respectivas interpretações jurídicas. Ainda, propõe-se a aferir a superação do paradigma racionalista, na faceta do paradigma ideológico, que afasta do Poder Judiciário do civil law o papel de participação ativa na criação de direito. Sob os avanços da teoria da interpretação jurídica e das novas funções atribuídas aos tribunais de vértice, a pesquisa busca ainda identificar uma norma constitucional que impõe a utilização de precedentes no direito brasileiro. / This research investigates the compatibility of the brazilian legal system with the doctrine of precedents; investigates the possibillity of introducing the stare decisis in a statutory legal system. The analysis starts from a historical comparison between the civil law and the common law traditions, in order to identify the origins, moments of divergences and the current stage of proximity, with the north that the traditions, together, represents a large western legal tradition. From this historical background, the research advances to the analysis of structural and functional profile of each of the traditions, identifying the instruments and the methods of application of law, besides the related legal interpretations theory. In addition, the research seeks to check the resilience of the rationalist paradigm, on the ideological fashion, that removes from the civil law’s judiciary any participation in the creation of law. Under the advances of the legal interpretation theory and the new tasks assigned to the superior courts, this research also seeks to identify a constitutional rule to impose the use of precedents in brazilian law.

In this article, the author tell us about the job of the constitutional judge and the importance that this takes in a context of crisis. Also, he highlights the conventionalization of law as the central task of constitutional judges. Likewise, he details the difficulties involved in this task and the challenges to be faced for the consolidation of a common law in Latin America. / En el presente artículo el autor nos habla sobre la labor del juez constitucional y la importancia que adquiere está en un contexto de crisis. Asimismo, resalta la convencionalización del Derecho como tarea central de los jueces constitucionales. De igual manera, detalla las dificultades que acarrea esta tarea y los retos a enfrentar para la consolidación de un derecho común en América Latina.

A presente pesquisa pretende verificar a compatibilidade do ordenamento jurídico brasileiro com o sistema de precedentes; pretende apurar a viabilidade da introdução do stare decisis em sistema predominantemente de direito legislado. A análise parte de uma comparação histórica entre a tradição romano-canônica e o common law, a fim de identificar as origens, momentos de divergências e o atual estágio de aproximação, sob a ideia de que representam as tradições, em conjunto, uma grande tradição jurídica ocidental. A partir dessa origem histórica, a pesquisa avança à análise do perfil estrutural-funcional de cada uma das tradições, com a identificação dos instrumentos e dos métodos de aplicação do direito, além do perfil das respectivas interpretações jurídicas. Ainda, propõe-se a aferir a superação do paradigma racionalista, na faceta do paradigma ideológico, que afasta do Poder Judiciário do civil law o papel de participação ativa na criação de direito. Sob os avanços da teoria da interpretação jurídica e das novas funções atribuídas aos tribunais de vértice, a pesquisa busca ainda identificar uma norma constitucional que impõe a utilização de precedentes no direito brasileiro. / This research investigates the compatibility of the brazilian legal system with the doctrine of precedents; investigates the possibillity of introducing the stare decisis in a statutory legal system. The analysis starts from a historical comparison between the civil law and the common law traditions, in order to identify the origins, moments of divergences and the current stage of proximity, with the north that the traditions, together, represents a large western legal tradition. From this historical background, the research advances to the analysis of structural and functional profile of each of the traditions, identifying the instruments and the methods of application of law, besides the related legal interpretations theory. In addition, the research seeks to check the resilience of the rationalist paradigm, on the ideological fashion, that removes from the civil law’s judiciary any participation in the creation of law. Under the advances of the legal interpretation theory and the new tasks assigned to the superior courts, this research also seeks to identify a constitutional rule to impose the use of precedents in brazilian law.

This thesis aims to define the differences between the concept of self-defense under the criminal law of the Czech Republic and the United States of America, to assess their practical implications and propose possible recommendations de lege ferenda for the Czech legislation. Within the United States, the thesis further distinguishes between the concept of self-defense under the common law and the so-called Model Criminal Code, which together with the common law represents one of the most important sources of US criminal law. The thesis first compares the differences between the Continental and Anglo-American legal system, from which the respective national legal systems derive. Next part of the thesis further characterizes the Czech and American legal system, especially with regard to the status of criminal law and the role of jurisprudence within it. Particular attention is paid to the division of US legal system into federal and state, and the related issues of the organization of the judiciary and the system of precedents between various judicial bodies. This part then further introduces the aforementioned Model Criminal Code, which presents a compilation of the views of high-profile experts in the field of criminal law regarding the ideal form of criminal substantive law in the United States....

LL.M. / This research is a comparative study of the provisions for guardianship and custody, including maintenance of the South African common law and customary law. In customary law the emphasis is on the law of the Bafokeng people which is a tribe chosen as group of the research. The purpose of this research is to analyze the provisions of guardianship, custody and maintenance applicable to these legal systems. The analysis is divided as follows: • Guardianship and custody: (i) during the marriage; after divorce; after death of parent(s); of an extra-marital child. • Maintenance of children: (i) during the marriage; after divorce; after death of parent(s); born outside marriage (extra-marital children). The objective is to highlight the similarities and differences between the provisions of these legal systems and to come up with the conclusion whether the one is more favourable than the other in catering for the needs and interests of its subjects. The conclusion will be governed by the following issues: • Which legal system caters for the interests of its subjects? • Which legal system accords with the provisions of the Constitution Act? • Which legal system protects the interests of the child best? Having come to that conclusion, the researcher aims at indicating laws which should be considered for reform.

Many common accounts of natural law understand it in opposition to modern social welfare theory. Contrary to that wisdom, this article shows  how many of the fixed landmarks of the common law, including its rules on individual autonomy and the definition and acquisition of private property, comport with the natural law tradition. t he modern welfarist positions only emerge through key decisions in nineteen century law, which then help explain the choice among three welfarist positions: Kaldor-Hicks, Pareto and a more rigorous standard that requires pro rata gains among all parties. this essay uses a transaction costs framework to explain the proper deployment of these three rules. / Diversas versiones comunes del derecho natural lo conciben en contraposición a la teoría moderna del bienestar social. Contrariamente a dicha concepción, este artículo evidencia cuántos de los hitos del derecho común, incluyendo sus reglas sobre la autonomía individual y la definición de la adquisición de la propiedad privada, concuerdan con la tradición del derecho natural. Las posturas modernas del bienestar emergen a través de decisiones clave en el derecho del siglo diecinueve, que ayudan a explicar la elección entre tres posturas de bienestar: Kaldor y Hicks, Pareto, y un estándar más riguroso que requiere ganancias a pro rata entre todas las partes. Este ensayo utiliza un marco basado en los costos de transacciónpara explicar el despliegue estratégico de estas tres reglas.

In this dissertation I analyse the transformation of the South African law on the warranty against latent defects. I trace the development from pre-classical Roman law through to the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (“the CPA”). Society’s ever-changing economic requirements and moral ideals serve as the driving forces behind these continuous legal developments. Under Roman law the rules on latent defects initially applied to the sale of slaves. In contrast, modern South African law, as per the CPA and the values of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, specifically aims to protect the most vulnerable members of South Africa’s unequal society. The conservative approach adopted by the judiciary when adjudicating contractual matters hinders the transformation of the law of sale. Legal rules and legal thinking which reinforce traditional distributive patterns require reconsideration if societal-wide change, as demanded by the Constitution, can be imagined and accomplished. If the economic role of the contract and its power to divide and (re)distribute wealth is viewed as important, the link between poverty and the contract, and by association the consumer agreement, cannot be ignored. Contracts, and specifically basic consumer and credit agreements, are often concluded in order to facilitate survival in our current social reality. The law as it relates to consumer protection and the sale of defective goods is directly related to the contract’s role in wealth distribution. Where sales agreements are in question, the unequal bargaining power of the parties can impede the purchaser/consumer even further. The consumer’s right to good quality and safe goods creates uncertainty regarding whether or not the seller’s liability under the common law warranty against latent defects may be excluded in instances where the CPA and the common law apply simultaneously. This uncertainty, if addressed as being part of the national project of transformative constitutionalism, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the exclusion of the seller’s liability is, paradoxically, detrimental to the very subject that the CPA and Constitution aim to protect, namely the purchaser. / Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Private Law / LLM / Unrestricted