Consensual Justice in Focus: Reflections From the First ASGiC National Congress

Key Takeaways

• First ASGiC Congress gathered scholars on consensual justice in Florence
• Keynote speakers defined trust, consent, solidarity as core concepts
• Honorary members recognized for contributions to participatory legal practice
• Interdisciplinary roundtable linked social sciences with dispute resolution
• ASGiC plans 2027 Trento colloquium and 2028 Taormina congress

Pulse Analysis

Consensual justice is emerging as a viable alternative to traditional adversarial models, and ASGiC’s first national congress placed the concept at the forefront of scholarly debate. By convening jurists, constitutional scholars, and criminologists, the Florence gathering highlighted how consent‑based frameworks can enhance legitimacy, reduce litigation costs, and foster social cohesion. The emphasis on trust, dialogue, and solidarity reflects broader trends in restorative justice and collaborative law, positioning Italy as a testing ground for policies that could reshape dispute resolution worldwide.

The congress’s interdisciplinary roundtable underscored the value of integrating social‑science perspectives into legal analysis. Participants from communication studies and sociology offered empirical insights into how interpersonal dynamics shape consent, enriching doctrinal discussions with real‑world data. Honorary members such as former Constitutional Court President Marta Cartabia exemplified the bridge between high‑level jurisprudence and grassroots practice, reinforcing the notion that participatory justice requires both theoretical rigor and practical implementation. This blend of expertise signals a new research agenda that prioritizes empirical validation of consent‑driven mechanisms.

Looking ahead, ASGiC’s announced 2027 colloquium in Trento and the 2028 congress in Taormina signal a sustained commitment to advancing consensual justice. These events will likely attract policymakers, court administrators, and international scholars, accelerating the diffusion of collaborative dispute‑resolution models across Europe and beyond. As the Society’s programmatic lines gain traction, legal education curricula may adapt, and courts could pilot consent‑based procedures, ultimately reshaping how justice is conceived and delivered in the twenty‑first century.