Q&A With Marco Antonio Marques da Silva, Chief Judge of the São Paulo Court of Appeals

Marco Antonio Marques da Silva – background

Marco Antonio Marques da Silva, who received a Bachelor’s in Law, Master’s in Law, and Doctorate in Law from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, knew he wanted to peruse a career in law from a very young age. Born in ltapetininga in 1958, Marques da Silva continued his education after the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo by receiving a post-doctoral degree in economic and European criminal law from the University of Coimbra. Outside of the classroom, Marco Antonio Marques da Silva has had a seasoned career in academia and law. He began his law career as a member of the state judiciary, a position that allowed him to travel to Monte Alto, Diadema, and São Paulo. Shortly after, he served as a substitute judge and then a full member of the Court of Appeals. In his academic work, he has long held a position as a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo. He is also a member of many organizations that promote higher education, such as the Research Center of the University of Lisbon, the Scientific Council of the Lisbon Law Review, and the Center for Legal Research of Cyberspace. Currently, Marques da Silva is the chief justice of the São Paulo Court of Appeals. Outside of academia and law, he is also the author of many books and articles in the areas of criminal procedural law, constitutional procedural law, and human rights.

Where did the idea for your books and events come from?

From collaborating with professionals from other countries, books, articles, and academic works have helped a more global approach to scientific thought. What comes from these books and the conversations and events they help facilitate is imperative to forming different schools of thought.

What does your typical day look like – and how do you stay productive?

My day-to-day can become very strenuous, especially when I work with cases that require intense discussions. Even though this is the case, the conversations are often intellectually stimulating and pleasurable. I’ve been working in the academic field at Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo for 36 years, and in the law field for 34 years (in the judicial branch of São Paulo.) Within the subject of law, I work with undergraduate and graduate students who are coordinating works for publication within the law spectrum. Outside of academia and in my position as the chief justice of the São Paulo Court of Appeals, I work with a panel of judges to decide cases in the criminal division, to which I belong.

Marco Antonio, How do you bring your ideas to life?

Traveling and meeting professionals from different countries – mainly Portugal and Italy –allows me to learn so much. Academic meetings in other countries will enable me to bring ideas back to Brazil and implement them in my day-to-day job as the chief justice of the Court of Appeals. To help build a better world, conversations between professionals help solve complicated problems. The works me and my colleagues produce are not our own – we are merely looking after them for future readers; I have given life to the information in my works, but others can use them to produce their ideas.

What is one trend that excites you?

I’ve been fascinated with the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge for quite some time. Science alone cannot adequately describe the human condition or what it means to understand how complicated life is. That is why different areas, both academic and non-academic, have to communicate and discuss problems – when this is done, we can begin to break down dilemmas such as human suffering. When I decide a court case, there are so many aspects that go into it – not just the decision itself, but how the families, the victim, and the defendant are impacted. Punishment for wrong-doing is one thing, but is that punishment appropriate for the amount of suffering that has been caused?

What habits make you a productive entrepreneur?

What completes me internally? Reading. Reading everything that is within my reach, whether that is academic work, periodicals, or books. I also enjoy movies, more specifically movies that open my eyes and show me worlds I haven’t seen before. I love movies that are inspiring and thought-provoking and reading everything I can, brings me much joy.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I believe in working hard as if everything depends on you, but trusting as if everything depends on God.

What do you believe is true, but no one else agrees on?

My career has allowed me to travel so much, so I believe the best way to use your money is to travel. Many people cannot see the investment you make when you travel, and the experiences that can be gained from learning about different cultures, people, and places. How can people know about food, about culture, about the world unless they travel? It also helps tremendously to have a companion beside you to share those experiences and places with.

What is one thing you do over and over again that you believe everyone else should do as well?

Set goals and be incredibly persistent in achieving them. In the environment around you, there are so many tools at your disposal – try not to let individual goals ruin your success in the long-run.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

One way to ensure success is to surround yourself with people who understand and realize your full potential – people who believe in the same things you do, who have the same worldview and set of goals. People who are greedy and lazy, or who do not believe in the same things you do, will only slow you down.

How did you overcome a failure you’ve had in your career?

When we receive obstacles in our lives, we often become dejected. What we fail to realize, however, is that these obstacles and failures happen for a reason, and God writes our path in life. Even though the lines he writes may seem crooked to us, they are on the right path for us.

What is the best $100 you recently spent and why?

Recently, I helped someone who needed it – the pain and suffering of others bothers me, and relationships with people who need assistance trigger all of us to assist them, whether that’s with money or something else.

What piece of software helps you and why?

When I’m looking to record my ideas, I love to use a notebook or iPad. This helps me physically produce the ideas I am thinking of at the moment.

For more information about Marco Antonio Marques da Silva at https://www.epd.edu.br/professores/marco-antonio-marques-da-silva