Cesar Asfor Rocha's Letters to an Aspiring Judge is a profound collection of correspondence that serves as a guide and a heartfelt dialogue between a seasoned legal mind and the next generation of judicial thinkers.
Fifteen letters delve into the essence of legal practice, reflecting on the moral and ethical challenges faced by those who uphold the law. Beginning with a historical introduction to the dual paths to the judicial bench in Brazil, it explores several of a judge’s relationships with other members of the legal profession, (judges, lawyers, politicians, and society at large) and invites readers to reflect deeply on the foundational principles of justice and the human element that underpins the legal profession. The author, a distinguished figure in the Brazilian legal system, who has occupied almost all positions in the Brazilian Judiciary offers readers invaluable insights and reflections cultivated over decades of experience.
Cesar Asfor Rocha is a distinguished figure in the Brazilian legal system who has occupied almost all positions in the Judiciary, including that of Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Justice. He is the founder of Cesar Asfor Advogados, a law firm whose offices are in the main capitals of Brazil, São Paulo and Brasilia. He is the President of the Superior Council of Legal Affairs of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo, a lifetime member of the Brazilian Academy of Legal Letters and the Cearense Academy of Letters, and Member of the Committee of Jurists appointed by the Federal Senate to review and update the Brazilian Civil Code in 2024. He is also the author of several legal articles and books.
From the foreword:
In reading this book, one is not merely absorbing legal doctrine but engaging with a profound philosophical discourse on the nature of justice. Cesar Asfor Rocha's letters stand as a timeless guide for those who seek to navigate the delicate balance between law and humanity, making this work an essential companion for anyone committed to the pursuit of true justice.
---Rolando T. Acosta, Partner at Pillsbury and former Presiding Justice on the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department
From the introduction:
While Justice Asfor Rocha's book is undoubtedly extraordinarily useful and encouraging to young Brazilian judges-to-be, its value is not limited to that audience. For me – a lawyer for 30 years at an international law firm and a Columbia law professor – it is enormously valuable (and encouraging) to learn from Justice Asfor Rocha's work about how an eminent Brazilian judge thinks. (…) English speakers, I am confident you will enjoy this wonderful translation of Justice Asfor Rocha's Letters as much as I did.
---Robert H. Smit, Adjunct Professor of Law at Columbia Law School, Independent international arbitrator, former Partner and Chair of the International Arbitration and Litigation Practice of Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett
