Translated from Portuguese. The Portuguese version prevails. Ler em português
We are gathered here today to pay a well-deserved tribute to a woman of remarkable dedication and commitment, who today closes a brilliant chapter of her career, and also to welcome a new member of this Eminent Court.
To Justice Júlia Ferreira:
Throughout the years in which Your Excellency has served on this Court, we have borne witness to your legal brilliance, your integrity and your profound devotion to upholding the fundamental values of our Constitution.
Together, and it is still fresh in our memory, we built the foundations of the evolving idea of thought, and concluded with Freitas Rangel (2008) that Law and Justice are by nature conservative and, therefore, averse to processes of rupture and transformation. However, life is dynamic and more complex; it requires multidisciplinary knowledge of the available sciences, thereby causing the law to change and adapt to the winds of change.
Your legacy is one of greatness. The contributions you leave are countless, whether in enriching constitutional legal thought or in affirming and protecting the fundamental rights that underpin our Democratic State based on the Rule of Law.
Justice Júlia de Fátima,
From a comparison of all that has been said, it becomes lustrously clear that you embody the axial core of the living heritage of Angolan constitutional justice, inasmuch as, with erudition and shrewd eloquence, you overcame the conclusions you confronted during your time on the bench.
In this regard, it pleases me to address a few simple words to the Most Excellent Justice Júlia Ferreira, affirming that no farewell underlies what is said here, for there is no doubt that we shall always be able to count on your armour-clad knowledge for the consolidation of the case law of this August Court.
More than a Judge, you have been a true guardian of Justice. And, for that very reason, the gratitude of this Court, and why not of our sovereign PEOPLE, is immeasurable.
We wish that this new stage of your life may be equally rich in personal achievements, full of peace and with some quality time to remain bound to the duties that your current position holds for you. This is, and will continue to be, your/our home; so please feel free, whenever you can, to be present at those hours and on those days legally stipulated for the little snacks that are in order.
To Justice Dr Lucas Manuel João Quilundo
Your arrival marks the beginning of a new path in this Court. We are certain that you bring with you the same dedication and commitment that have always guided your career to date. The mission you now take on is noble and demanding, but it is also a rare opportunity to contribute to the soundness of our constitutional order.
As Freitas Rangel (2008) rightly asserts, being a Judge is not a profession. It is much more than that. It is to be the trustee of a purpose and of a trust given by citizens to administer Justice in their name, giving meaning to the Rule of Law.
Nowadays, a range of problems is brought before Justice that Justice is not always sufficiently prepared to resolve. To speak of Justice is to speak of the Judge, who today faces increased difficulties in resolving disputes – many colleagues here in the room know very well what that is like – Therefore, technical knowledge and skilful handling of the law are no longer sufficient requirements for the proper exercise of the judicial function.
The magnitude of the matters filed with this Court calls for a new vision, a new mentality; it calls for a constitutional awareness grounded, essentially, in the “DUTY AS GUARDIAN” of the Dignity OF THE HUMAN PERSON, and in the guarantee of access to law and effective judicial protection.
At this moment of farewell and welcome, we are filled with the certainty that our institutional mission remains firm and strengthened. The “see you soon” of a pillar of our house is deeply felt, but the arrival of a new member is a cause for joy, enthusiasm and hope.
Justice Quilundo,
It is not an easy replacement, but not an impossible one; being a necessary replacement, it is in your hands to strive for the success or failure of your term of office. Welcome to the Constitutional Court; make yourself at home and please allow yourself to be looked after by Mother Augusta, enjoy Luzia's good coffee, follow Dr Yuma's suggestions with caution, always question the proposals on the rules of ceremonial, and make sure that the legal and doctrinal references suggested by our GATJ are in order.
To the delight of Dr Luísa, Benjamim and Agostinho, “always say hello” to our lush Saint George's swords, Saint Barbara's swords and Orchids that adorn our house.
May the example that the Honourable Justice Dr Júlia Ferreira leaves us today inspire us all, and may the path of Justice Quilundo be illuminated by the same passion for Justice and for the CRA.
Thank you very much for your attention