SMALL CLAIMS COURTS AS A MECHANISM FOR ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Abstract

This article seeks primarily to study the American system of Special Courts, using as a parameter the broad concept of access to justice and the issues identified in the Florence Project. As an accessory objective, the work lends itself to a comparative analysis between the special court systems in Brazil and the United States. Using bibliographical research and the hypothetical deductive method, it appears that both countries implemented their models with the aim of providing a faster and more accessible response to the population, especially those lacking resources, in resolving disputes. The structure and procedures of these courts are examined, focusing on the Small Claims Courts, highlighting similarities and differences that reflect the unique characteristics of each legal system, to reach the final deduction about the efficiency and usefulness of the American system, in promoting wider jurisdictional accessibility to its population.