O plenário virtual e as transformações de métodos de deliberação do Supremo Tribunal Federal

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the transformations brought about by the consolidation of the virtual plenary in the Brazilian Supreme Court's method of collegiate deliberation. After outlining a context of structural overload within the institution, the research combines nor-mative, empirical, and comparative approaches to reconstruct the historical evolution of the system. The thesis examines how the adoption of this tool allowed the Court to handle a high volume of demands, optimizing case flow, expanding its operations through collegiate bod-ies, and simplifying rulings. It also identifies its impacts on deliberative quality, the use of oral arguments by lawyers, and social control over judgments and legal practice. Finally, it proposes formal and material criteria for selecting cases that should be examined in in-person judgment sessions. It concludes that the virtual plenary is a valuable instrument for institutional efficiency, but its use must be calibrated with safeguards that preserve due pro-cess, transparency, and qualified deliberation in cases of greater constitutional relevance.