Italian Constitutional Justice in Global Context

The volume essentially provides a generally systematic overall view of the role of the Constitutional Court in Italy. It thus fosters a move away from the fragmented dialogue that has largely characterised the Court to a more open dialogue with the whole community of interpreters of law. In times of fragility and debate regarding the Italian constitutional system, in a period when the Italian constitutional system in general, and Italian constitutional justice in particular, are often at the forefront of controversy, a text of this kind shows its vitality, and in some way contributes, albeit indirectly, to the strengthening of the central role of constitutional justice and the constitutional system as a whole. - Gaetano Azzariti , Italian Journal of Public Law [T]he book is the first attempt in the Italian scholarly debate to consider the distinguishing features of Italian constitutional adjudication through Italian eyes whilst at the same time thinking (and consequently writing) in English so as to render the content accessible to non-Italian readers, by following a deductive and case law-based method rather than the usual Italian theoretical approach characteristic of most Italian books on constitutional adjudication. [B]y adopting an evolutive historical approach, the authors succeed in demonstrating how it is thanks to what one might call this 'internal unchosen training' that the court has ended up being better trained and better prepared than other European courts to play a leading role in the current season of cooperative constitutionalism in Europe and, more generally, in constitutional adjudication within the global arena. - Oreste Pollicino, Common Market Law Review This book provides an excellent introduction to those unfamiliar with Italian constitutional law. It includes valuable and provocative excerpts from significant decisions across an array of important areas, offering an account reflecting a sophisticated and sympathetic inside-out perspective. It will be a useful resource to those interested in comparative constitutional law, and especially in the roles of jurisprudence of constitutional courts. - Vicki C. Jackson, Thurgood Marshall Professor of Constitutional Law, Harvard Law School A book like this is long overdue. The contribution of the Italian Constitutional Court to constitutional justice can now find its deserved place in research on comparative constitutionalism. - Dieter Grimm, Professor of Law, Humboldt University Berlin, and Former Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany While high court judges around the world are taking ever-more intense interest in how other legal systems deal with issues of common concern, the range of available materials has remained rather narrow. Now, thanks to four leading comparatists, the work of one of the most important and interesting constitutional courts will at last become better known. Cross-national judicial dialogue should be immensely enriched by this study of the Italian Constitutional Court and its jurisprudence. - Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law, Harvard University A comprehensive analysis of the Italian Constitutional Court's first 60 years. Combining originality with meticulous research, this book offers a convincing overview of the development of judicial review in Italy. Lawyers, political scientists, and historians will enjoy this informative and ground-breaking account. - Sabino Cassese, Justice Emeritus, Italian Constitutional Court The authors have given us a first-rate analysis of Italian constitutional development since the Second World War. This book fills a large gap in the English language literature. - Bruce Ackerman, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science, Yale University The authors have produced an extraordinary book. It is not by chance that the book has been the subject of great interest from many groups of scholars in Italy, Europe and the United States. [T]he book is concise, comprehensive, enriched by statistics and good indexes and well-written. Through frequent and diffuse quotations of the case law of the Constitutional Court (often translated into English for the first time), the book is a window into the whole Italian constitutional system. The book examines the Constitutional Court's historical evolution, its role in adjudicating matters of regional and local government, its interaction with other constitutional bodies and its relationship with the European Courts. - Nicola Lupo, American Journal of Comparative Law This is a very different book a combination in the best sense of a law book and a book about the law learned and erudite in its descriptive parts, insightful in its analytical part. It is important because so many out there will simply be unaware of Italian constitutionalism, its history, institutions and not least its jurisprudence. I might say, tongue in cheek, that if you read it coupled with Sabino Cassese's Diary which I recommend below, you will not need to read much more. - Joseph Weiler, European Journal of International Law