Notre Dame J.S.D. Graduate Bernardo Pulido Márquez Advances Human Rights Law Across the Americas

By Editorial Team

After completing his Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D.) at Notre Dame Law School, Bernardo Pulido Márquez is making significant strides in advancing human rights law across the Americas. His dissertation, which focused on the boundaries of the right to stand for election in Latin America, sheds light on how courts interpret and enforce restrictions on electoral candidacy.

A native of Venezuela, Pulido Márquez’s academic journey includes a law degree from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas and a Master of the Science of Law (J.S.M.) from Stanford University before pursuing his J.S.D. at Notre Dame. He attributes his intellectual growth to the diverse and open-minded community at Notre Dame, where he had the freedom to engage in challenging discussions with respect and understanding.

During his time at Notre Dame, Pulido Márquez was actively involved in various student organizations, serving as the LL.M./J.S.D. student representative to the Student Bar Association, Managing Editor of the Journal of International and Comparative Law, and holding leadership positions in the International Human Rights Law Society and the Hispanic Law Students Association. He also worked as a graduate fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies and the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights.

Professor Paolo Carozza, Pulido Márquez’s faculty advisor, praised his doctoral work as an original and insightful scholarly contribution that upholds human dignity and the common good. Carozza highlighted the importance of Pulido Márquez’s research in the current global context of democratic erosion, emphasizing its role in preserving healthy systems of democratic political participation.

Despite leaving campus to work at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights as a staff attorney, Pulido Márquez continued to work on his dissertation remotely. He plans to remain at the Court post-graduation, furthering the advancement of human rights law throughout the Americas.

Reflecting on his Jesuit education, Pulido Márquez emphasized the importance of being a “different kind of lawyer” by striving to make the world a better place through ethical and committed legal practice. His journey exemplifies the Notre Dame Law School J.S.D. program’s dedication to scholarly rigor, ethical responsibility, and global engagement.