Articles
07 October 2026in Boletim da Ordem dos Advogados OPINION | 30 Years Defending Citizens’ Fundamental Rights

The article is authored by Carlos Melo Alves, a criminal defence lawyer, a member of the Portuguese Bar Association since 1991 and a founding partner of Melo Alves. Marking 30 years of the firm’s activity, it highlights its contribution to the development of Portuguese criminal case law and the protection of fundamental rights.

Throughout the article, Carlos Melo Alves reflects on cases that led to significant decisions by the Portuguese Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Justice, contributing to the interpretation and clarification of issues such as telephone interceptions, the admissibility and assessment of evidence, hearsay evidence, access to evidence, procedural deadlines and the use of GPS data in criminal investigations. He also discusses a case involving undercover police officers, in which unlawful conduct by the authorities led to the acquittal of the defendants.

The article reaffirms Carlos Melo Alves’ commitment to protecting fundamental rights, safeguarding the rights of the defence and upholding human dignity, regardless of the nature or unpopularity of the cases involved.

Article by: Carlos Melo Alves