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Dr. Augusto Zimmermann

Lecturer
LL.B, LL.M, Ph.D (Monash University)

Dr Zimmermann is an internationally known legal scholar who holds a LL.B and a LL.M. cum laude (first class honours) from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), and a Ph.D. from Monash University (Victoria, Australia). Dr Zimmermann has been regularly invited to speak at conferences and seminars in Australia and overseas, and mentioned in news media such as BBC, The Boston Globe, The Washington Times, and The West Australian. He has been included, together with only a few Australian academics and policymakers, in the prestigious 'Policy Experts' - the Heritage Foundation's directory for the best public policy experts in both the United States and foreign countries.

 
Career:
   
2008 - Present
  • Lecturer, Murdoch Law School
  • Collaborator, Research Unit for the Study of Society, Law and Religion (RUSSLR), University of Adelaide
  • Member, Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching and Learning Committee, Murdoch University
  • Member, Australian Society of Legal Philosophy (ASLP)
  • Member, Church and Nation Committee – the ethics’ committee of the Presbyterian Church of Western Australia
2009 - Present
  • Member, Freedom of Speech in Policies and Procedures Working Party, Academic Council, Murdoch University
  • Member, Academic Staff Collective Workplace Agreement Advisory Group, Murdoch University
2005 - 2006
  • Member, Church and Nation Committee – the Ethics’ Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria
2000 - 2007
  • Member, Editorial Board, Lumen Juris (a leading Brazilian Law Book Publisher)
1996 - 2002
  • Member, Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) / Rio de Janeiro Chapter
1998 - 1999
  • Political Affairs Director, PNBE - National Thought of Entrepreneurial Bases / Rio de Janeiro Chapter
 
Education:
  • Ph.D., Monash University – Faculty of Law (2002-2006)
  • LL.M. (cum laude), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro / PUC-Rio (1997-1999)
  • LL.B. (Hon.) Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro / PUC-Rio (1991-1996)
  • Insider’s Look at Washington Politics – one-week seminar conducted by Georgetown University and The Fund for American Studies, which included exclusive briefings at Washington DC’s places of power (2006).
  • Professional Training in Arbitration Law and Practice Programme – intensive course accredited by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and conducted by the Western Australian Institute of Dispute Management (2009)
Teaching:

Currently responsible for teaching the units:

  • Constitutional Law
  • Legal Theory
Research:

Areas of particular interest include:

  • Australian Constitutional Law
  • Comparative Constitutional Law
  • Brazilian Law and Society
  • Federalism
  • Human Rights Law
  • Law & Religion
  • Legal Sociology (Legal Culture)
  • Legal History
  • Jurisprudence
  • Rule of Law
Publications:

Theses

  1. 'Os Postulados do Federalismo Democrático: Descentralização Política, Pluralismo Federativo e Princípio da Subsidiariedade'. (LL.M. thesis in Constitutional Law and Theory of State, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro - PUC-Rio, 1999)
  2. 'Waiting for the Rule of Law: Legal and Extra-Legal Obstacles for the Realisation of the Rule of Law in Brazil' (Ph.D. thesis, Monash University, Faculty of Law, 2006

Academic Books

  1. Curso de Direito Constitucional (Course on Constitutional Law), 4th ed., Lumen Juris, Rio de Janeiro (2006), xxx + 788 pages. – ISBN 85-7387-256-X.
  2. Teoria Geral do Federalismo Democrático (General Theory of Democratic Federalism) Lumen Juris, Rio de Janeiro (2005), xxi + 405 pages. – ISBN 85-7387-070-2

Book Review

  1. Introdução à Teoria do Direito ( Introduction to Legal Theory), by Professor Aurélio Wander Bastos. Jurispoiesis, year I / number 1, 2000 – ISSN 1516-6635.

Book Preface

  1. As Forças Armadas nas Constituições Brasileiras, by Navy Commander Fernando C.D. de Alcantara. (FBN: Rio de Janeiro, 2007).
  2. Divorce and Remarriage: A Biblical Examination of Divorce and Remarriage, by Desmond O. Gaffney MA, BSc, BTh, PhD (Marton Publishing, 2008)

Journal Articles

  1. 'Constitutions without Constitutionalism: The Failure of Constitutionalism in Brazil' (2009) 14 Jus Gentium (University of Baltimore) (forthcoming)
  2. ‘Populismo Brasileiro: Bom para os Políticos, Ruim para os Pobres’, Digesto Econômico, Year LXIII, No.450, São Paulo, May 2009.
  3. ‘Legislating Evil: The Philosophical Foundations of the Nazi Legal System’ (2010) 13 International Trade and Business Law Review 221.
  4. 'Marxism, Law and Evolution: Marxist Law in both Theory and Practice' (2009) 23(3) Journal of Creation 90.
  5. 'Eight Reasons why Australia should not have a Federal Charter of Rights' (2009) 79 National Observer 34.
  6. 'Industrial Relations and the Commonwealth Constitution: The Constitutional Underpinnings for a National System of Industrial Relations in Australia' (2009) 12 International Trade and Business Law Review 185.
  7. 'Law and Society in Brazil: Prevailing Perceptions of Law in Brazilian Society' (2009) 2 (1) International Journal of Private Law 15.
  8. 'When Bills of Rights Violate Human Rights' (2008) 29 (2) The Australian Family 9.
  9. 'The Darwinian Roots of the Nazi Legal System' (2008) 22 (3) Journal of Creation 109.
  10. 'The Politics of Lawlessness in Brazil: How Brazilian Politics overrides the Rule of Law' (2008) 15(1) Murdoch University E-Law Journal 3.
  11. 'How Brazilian Judges Undermine the Rule of Law: A Critical Appraisal' (2008) 11 International Trade and Business Law Review 179.
  12. 'Direitos Constitutionais no Brasil: Uma Ficção Legal?', Digesto Econômico, Year LXII, No.445, S. Paulo, December 2007.
  13. 'Elementos Práticos e Teóricos para a Realização do Estado de Direito no Brasil' (2007) 1(1) Direito Vivo 5.
  14. 'The Christian Roots of the Rule of Law in the West' (2007) 7 (1) Universitas Pelita Harapan Law Review 16.
  15. 'Constitutional Rights in Brazil: A Legal Fiction?' (2007) 14(2) Murdoch University E-Law Journal 28.
  16. 'The Wrongs of a WA Human Rights Act: A Rights-Based Critique' (2007) 73 National Observer 62.
  17. 'The Marriage Power: Constitutional Issues' (2007) 72 National Observer 63.
  18. 'The Rule of Law as a Culture of Legality: Legal and Extra-Legal Elements for the Realisation of the Rule of Law' (2007) 14(1) Murdoch University E-Law Journal 10.
  19. 'Rui Barbosa, O 'Águia de Haia': Um Breve Estudo em Homenagem ao Centenário de sua Participação na Segunda Conferência de Paz de Haia' (2007) 33 Revista Achegas de Ciência Política 14.
  20. 'What is Wrong With a Charter of Rights?' 2006 2(1) The Original Law Review 29.
  21. 'Funções Legais e Extra-Legais do Estado de Direito' (2006) 29 Revista Achegas de Ciência Política
  22. 'The Left-Wing Threat to Brazil's Democracy' (2006) 68 National Observer 48.
  23. 'Why the Victorian Vilification Legislation Undermines Democratic Freedoms' (2005) 1(3) The Original Law Review 52.
  24. 'The Christian Foundations of the Rule of law in the West: A Legacy of Liberty and Resistance against Tyranny' (2005) 19 (2) Technical Journal 67.
  25. 'Princípios Fundamentais e Interpretação Constitucional' (2003) 9 Revista Achegas de Ciência Política.
  26. 'Soberania Parlamentar e Jurisdição Constitucional no Reino Unido: Um Debate Político e Jusfilosófico' (2002) 4 Revista Achegas de Ciência Política.
  27. 'Fundamentos Neokantianos para um Projeto Federalista de Paz Perpétua' (2002) 2 Revista Achegas de Ciência Política
  28. 'The Principle of Subsidiarity - A Policy for the Democratic Reform of the Brazilian Federal State', Democracy - Organization for the American States (OAS), Washington/ DC, Spring/2000.
  29. 'Análise dos Princípios Constitucionais Fundamentais da República Federativa do Brasil' (2000) 3(3) Revista Interdisciplinar de Direito 343.
  30. 'Estado de Direito e Espaço Público Democrático: Fundamentos Políticos e Jusfilosóficos de uma Postulação Correlacional' (2000) 2(2) Jurispoiesis 209
  31. 'Análise Crítica dos Fundamentos de Validade da Norma Jurídica Internacional' (1999) 1(2) Jurispoiesis 183.
  32. 'Os Princípios do Pluralismo Federativo' (1999) 4(1) Contemporânea 161.
  33. 'Direito e Justiça: O Valor do Direito e o Ideal de Justiça' (1999) (1) 1 Após 33.
  34. 'Rudolf Smend e a Teoria Constitucional Integrativa' (1998) 4 (1) Cadernos de Estudos de Direito Constitucional da PUC-Rio 25.

Conference Papers

  1. 'Legal Philosophy in Nazi Germany', Australian Society of Legal Philosophy, Melbourne, 6 June 2009.
  2. 'Philosophical Foundations of the Nazi Legal System', presented at Murdoch University School of Law, Perth, 29 May 2009.
  3. 'Christianity, Freedom & Law', presented at Summit Worldview Conference - Presbyterian Church of Western Australia, Perth, 16 January 2009.
  4. 'Has the High Court undermined Australia's Federalism?', Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, 14 November 2008.
  5. 'Considerations on Australian Federalism', III International Congress of Administrative Law, Rio de Janeiro, 12 November 2008.
  6. 'Law and Society in Brazil', Australian Society of Legal Philosophy, Melbourne 15 June 2008
  7. 'Is the Brazilian Judiciary a Power above the Law?', presented at Murdoch University School of Law, 28 April 2008.
  8. 'Legal and Extra-Legal Reasons for the Explosion of Criminality in Brazil', presented to the John Fleming Centre for the Advancement of Legal Research - Australian National University, Canberra, 8 February 2008.
  9. 'Multiculturalism & the Rule of Law', addressed at the 2008 Australia Summit Worldview Conference, Deakin University, Melbourne, 15 January 2008.
  10. 'The Christian Roots of the Rule of Law in the West', addressed at Universitas Pelita Harapan, Jakarta (Indonesia), 6 July 2007.
  11. 'The Demise of Christian Education', National Conference on Faith and Science Integration, Universitas Kristen Petra, Jawa Timur (Indonesia), 4 July 2007.
  12. 'Principles and Institutions of the Rule of Law', presented to Murdoch International, Singapore, 26 May 2007.
  13. 'Brazilian Legal Culture', presented to Murdoch University School of Law, 23 March 2007.
  14. 'How Brazilian Judges Undermine the Rule of Law', presented at Monash University Faculty of Law, Melbourne, 2 August 2005.
  15. 'Why the Victorian Vilification Legislation Undermines Democratic Freedoms', presented at Christian Legal Society of Victoria, 2 June 2005.
  16. '(Un)rule of Law in Brazil: Legal and Cultural Impediments to Government under the Law', presented at the Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, 25 January 2005.
  17. 'Legal Culture and (Un)rule of Law in Brazil', presented at Monash University Faculty of Law, 31 August 2004.
  18. 'Teoria Política e Organização Constitucional', addressed to Federal Labour Court of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, 26 January 2002.
  19. 'Direito Constitucional Inglês', presented at Universidade Estácio de Sá, Rio de Janeiro, 23 May 2001.
  20. 'Direitos Fundamentais e o Direito de Resistência Civil', presented at Universidade Estácio de Sá, Rio de Janeiro, 24 March 2001.
  21. 'Reforma do Pacto Federativo Brasileiro', presented at Law Academic Centre of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), 17 October 2000.
  22. 'Legitimidade Política e o Estado de Direito', presented at Universidade Estácio de Sá, Rio de Janeiro, 19 September 2000.
  23. 'O Indivíduo e o Estado', presented to the Coligação dos Policiais Civis do Rio de Janeiro - Universidade do Estado de Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro 19 May 2000.
  24. 'Teoria do Estado' and 'Brazilian Constitutional History', address to the State Police Academy of Rio de Janeiro, January 2000.
  25. 'O Pacto Federativo Brasileiro', presented at Universidade Estácio de Sá, Rio de Janeiro, 21 October 1999.
  26. 'Rui Barbosa e a Formação do Federalismo Brasileiro', addressed at the College of Magistrates of Rio de Janeiro (EMERJ), Rio de Janeiro, 8 October 1999.
  27. 'Os Artigos Federalistas: Madison, Jay e Hamilton', presented at Instituto Liberal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 19 July 1999.
  28. 'Globalização Econômica e o Estado de Direito', presented at Universidade ABEU, Nilópolis/RJ, 13 May 1999.
  29. 'Análise Crítica do Federalismo Brasileiro', Academic Centre of PUC-Rio, Rio de Janeiro, 11 May 1999.
  30. 'A Reforma Constitucional da Federação Brasileira', presented at Universidade ABEU, Nilópolis/RJ, 24 June 1999.
  31. 'John Stuart Mill', presented at Instituto Liberal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21 December 1998.
  32. 'Rudolf Smend e a Constituição Integrativa', presented at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 3 November 1998.
  33. 'Liberdade e Estado de Direito', presented at Instituto Liberal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos Reis/RJ, 16 May 1998.


Contact:
   
Address:  

ECL/2.022, School of Law

+61 8 9360 2979
Murdoch University +61 8 9310 6671
South Street A.Zimmermann@murdoch.edu.au
MURDOCH WA 6150

www.law.murdoch.edu/staffs/a.zimmermann.html

 

 

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