Poster presented at the Herrenhäuser Konferenzen. Jun. 2018

1. This research focus on the study of the access to information law under the light of public commu-
nication. In this perspective, we tend to understand this normative as a communication policy more
than as a transparency mechanism, since it can improve communication between the State and its
citizens. The main question that this research tries to answer is the following: in what ways can the
access to information improve current communication rights in both Brazil’s and Mexico’s Su-
preme Courts?
The background premise of this research is that the disclosure of information alone doesn't im-
prove the image of public institutions or automatically increase their trustworthiness. That's when
public communication enter the scene, to make sure that this flow of information gets to the audi-
ence in a understandable fashion.
Since 2012, Brazilians can request access to information to every public office thanks to our access
to information law. In the same year, the Supreme Court established some basic parameters of ap-
plication of this law in their own scope. However, the federal law was effectively regulated by the
Supreme Court only two years later, in 2014.
Public communication and the right
to access information: a look at the Supreme Court
Doctoral student: Luma Pole� Dutra
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Fernando Oliveira Paulino
Communica�on College – University of BrasíliaDoctoral student: Luma Poletti Dutra Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Fernando Oliveira Paulino Communication College – University Of Brasília
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• Why study the judiciary power? • But why did you choose specifically
the Supreme Courts?
• Why focus on Mexico?
In Brazil, for several reasons that
have to do with our political con-
text, the judiciary (and specially its
members), is more than ever a pop-
ular subject. Judges are expected to
be transparent about their opinions.
This sometimes results in news
coverage that raises the question of
whether this is transparency or just
exposure.
Because it’s a country that, despite
its recent past marked by corruption
scandals, has made great advances
in the development of access to in-
formation policies. Their access to
information law dates from 2002
and numerous civil groups worked
on in. Aside from this, Mexico and
Brazil have similarities in the devel-
opment of these policies.
The Supreme Courts represent the
last instance on the judicial system.
Aside from this, there is a lack of
academic studies in regard to com-
munication/transparency policies
applied to the judiciary power.
This is a 4-year-research that started in 2017.
According to the work schedule, the field work in Mexico will begin in 2019.
Research status:
Access to information law in the Brazilian Supreme Court