Email
joel.colon-rios@essex.ac.ukTelephone
+44 (0) 1206 872175
Location
4SB.6.17, Colchester Campus
Biography
Joel Colón-Ríos is Professor of Law at Essex Law School. Before joining Essex, Joel was Professor of Law at Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington and Director of the New Zealand Centre for Public Law. His research focuses on the relationship between democracy and constitutionalism, and his publications include Constituent Power and the Law (OUP, 2020) and Adjudicating Revolution: Courts and Constitutional Change (Edward Elgar, 2022). Joel is happy to supervise work on constitutional theory, Latin American constitutionalism, and comparative constitutional law, areas in which he has also published widely.
Qualifications
PhD Law York University,
LLM Law University of Toronto,
Juris Doctor University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras,
BA Political Science University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras,
Current teaching responsibilities
Public Law (LW103)
Comparative Law (LW205)
Public Law in Context: Past, Present and Future (LW209)
Jurisprudence (LW301)
Canadian Constitutional Law (LW366)
Postgraduate research methods and professional development (LW987)
Introduction to Legal Theory (IA120)
Journal articles (61)
Colon-Rios, J. and Behrendt, S., Constitutional Identity, Democracy, and Illiberal Change. International Journal of Constitutional Law
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2023). Introduction: seven theses on the constituent power. Journal of Legal Philosophy. 48 (1), 38-43
Velasco-Rivera, M. and Colón-Ríos, JI., (2023). On the legal implications of a ‘permanent’ constituent power. Global Constitutionalism. 12 (2), 269-297
Colón-Ríos, J. and Roznai, Y., (2022). A CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY OF TERRITORIALITY: THE CASE OF PUERTO RICO. Cleveland State Law Review. 70 (2), 279-334
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2022). El estado del derecho constitucional comparado: ¿para qué son las constituciones? [The State of Comparative Constitutional Law: What are Constitutions For?]. Díkaion. 31 (2), 1-27
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2021). Constitutional experimentation. International Journal of Constitutional Law. 19 (3), 970-973
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2021). Of Omnipotent Things. Connecticut law review. 52 (5), 1335-1356
Colón-Ríos, JI., Hausteiner, EM., Lokdam, H., Pasquino, P., Rubinelli, L. and Selinger, W., (2021). Constituent power and its institutions. Contemporary Political Theory. 20 (4), 926-956
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2021). Constituent Power and the Law. Reply to Critics. Etica e Politica. 23 (3), 293-313
Colón-Ríos, J., (2021). El poder de una Asamblea Constituyente: reflexiones acerca de la Constitución de 1991 y su artículo 376 [The Power of a Constituent Assembly: Reflections on the Constitution of 1991 and its Article 376]. Revista Derecho del Estado (50), 77-98
Colón-Ríos, J., (2020). Arato’s Adventures: between sovereignty and constituent power. Revus. 41 (41), 1-16
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2019). Review of Eoin Daly's Rousseau's Constitutionalism: Austerity and Republican Freedom
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2017). Book Review: The Legal Foundations of Inequality: Constitutionalism in the Americas, 1776-1860
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2016). Constituent Processes and Democratic Ruptures. American Journal of Comparative Law. 64 (2), 505-511
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2016). La Excepción De Orden Público En El Derecho Internacional Privado (The Public Order Exception in Private International Law)
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2016). Democratizar a Puerto Rico (Democratising Puerto Rico)
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2016). Rousseau, Theorist of Constituent Power. Oxford Journal of Legal Studies. 36 (4), 885-908
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2016). What Is a Constitutional Transition
(2015). The Search for Environmental Justice
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2015). The Rights of Nature and the New Latin American Constitutionalism
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2015). Constitutionalism and Democracy in Latin America
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2015). Apuntes Sobre Legitimidad Democrática y Asambleas Constituyentes (Notes about Democratic Legitimacy and Constituent Assemblies). Victoria University of Wellington Legal Research Paper (97)
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2015). The Forms and Limits of Constitutional Amendments
Colon-Rios, J., (2015). Introduction: The forms and limits of constitutional amendments. International Journal of Constitutional Law. 13 (3), 567-574
Colón-Ríos, JI. and Hutchinson, A., (2015). Constitutionalising the Senate: A Modest Democratic Proposal. Victoria University of Wellington Legal Research Paper (96)
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2014). A New Typology of Judicial Review of Legislation
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2014). Naturaleza, Legitimación Activa, Y El Río Whanganui (Nature, Standing, and the Whanganui River)
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2014). Experimentation and Regulation
COLÓN-RÍOS, JI., (2014). A new typology of judicial review of legislation. Global Constitutionalism. 3 (2), 143-169
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2014). Constituent Power, the Rights of Nature, and Universal Jurisdiction. McGill Law Journal. 60
Colon-Rios, J., (2013). Beyond Parliamentary Sovereignty and Judicial Supremacy: The Doctrine of Implicit Limits to Constitutional Reform in Latin America. Victoria University of Wellington Law Review. 44 (3/4), 521-534
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2013). TEORÍA CONSTITUCIONAL Y ASAMBLEA CONSTITUYENTE (Constitutional Theory and Constituent Assemblies)
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2013). Notas Sobre La Reforma Constitucional Y Sus Límites (Notes on the Amending Power and its Limits)
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2013). Five Conceptions of Constituent Power
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2012). Chapter 1 - Weak Constitutionalism: Democratic Legitimacy and the Question of Constituent Power
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2012). The Meaning of Majority in the Constitution of Niue. Yearbook of the New Zealand Association for Comparative Law. 17
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2012). The Office of the Speaker and the Constitution of Niue: A Brief Comparative Analysis. Yearbook of the New Zealand Association for Comparative Law. 17
Bennett, MJ. and Colón-Ríos, JI., (2012). Public Participation in New Zealand's Regulatory Processes
Colon-Rios, J. and Hutchinson, AC., (2012). Democracy and revolution: An enduring relationship?. Denver University Law Review. 89 (3), 593-610
Colón Ríos, JI., (2012). The Counter-Majoritarian Difficulty and the Road not Taken: Democratizing Amendment Rules. Canadian Journal of Law & Jurisprudence. 25 (1), 53-78
Colon-Rios, J., (2011). Law, Language and Latin American Constitutions. Victoria University of Wellington Law Review. 42 (2), 367-386
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2011). Kelsen in New Zealand (in Spanish)
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2011). Notes on Democracy and Constitution-Making. New Zealand Journal of Public and International Law. 9 (1)
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2011). Las Opiniones 'Secretas' Del Tribunal Supremo De Estados Unidos: ¿El Fin Del Debate Sobre El Estatus? (The Secret Opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court: The End of the Status Debate?)
Colón-Ríos, JI. and Hevia, M., (2011). From Redistribution to Recognition
Bennett, MJ. and Colón-Ríos, JI., (2011). Public Participation and Regulation
Hutchinson, A. and Colón-Ríos, JI., (2011). Constituciones Duraderas – Una Crítica Democrática (Enduring Constitutions – A Democratic Critique). Anuario de Derecho Público (1)
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2011). De-Constitutionalizing Democracy. California Western Law Review. 47 (1)
Hutchinson, AC. and Colón-Ríos, J., (2011). Democracy and Constitutional Change. Theoria. 58 (127), 43-62
Colón‐Ríos, JI., (2011). Carl Schmitt and Constituent Power in Latin American Courts: The Cases of Venezuela and Colombia. Constellations. 18 (3), 365-388
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2010). New Zealand’s Constitutional Crisis. New Zealand Universities Law Review, Vol. 24. (3)
Colon-Rios, J., (2010). The Legitimacy of the Juridical: Constituent Power, Democracy, and the Limits of Constitutional Reform. Osgoode Hall Law Journal. 48 (2), 199-245
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2009). The Second Dimension of Democracy: The People and Their Constitution. Baltic Journal of Law and Politics. 2 (2)
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2009). The Three Waves of the Constitutionalism-Democracy Debate in the United States: (And an Invitation to Return to the First). Willamette Journal of International Law and Dispute Resolution. 18, 1-1
Hevia, M. and Colón-Ríos, JI., (2009). Contemporary Theories of Equality: A Critical Review. Revista Juridica Universidad de Puerto Rico. 74, 131-131
Colón-Ríos, JI. and Hevia, M., (2009). Review Essay: What Makes the International Investment Rules Regime Undemocratic?. German Law Journal. 10 (8), 1309-1320
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2009). The End of the Constitutionalism-Democracy Debate. Windsor Review of Legal and Social Issues. 28
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2008). ¿Pueden Haber Enmiendas Constitucionales Inconstitucionales? Una Mirada Al Derecho Comparado (Can There Be Unconstitutional Constitutional Amendments? A Comparative Perspective). Victoria University of Wellington Legal Research Paper (95)
Hevia, M. and Colón-Ríos, JI., (2008). The Legal Status of Puerto Rico and the Institutional Requirements of Republicanism
Hutchinson, A. and Colón-Ríos, JI., (2007). What's Democracy Got to Do With It? A Critique of Liberal Constitutionalism. CLPE Research Paper (29)
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2006). Re-Constituting Puerto Rico. Revista del Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico. 67
Books (5)
Kay, R. and Colón-Ríos, J., (2022). Adjudicating Revolution. Edward Elgar Publishing. 9781788971324
Colon-Rios, JI., (2020). Constituent Power and the Law. Oxford University Press. 0198785984. 9780198785989
(2019). Quasi-Constitutionality and Constitutional Statutes. Routledge
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2013). La constitución de la democracia. U. Externado de Colombia. 9587720539. 9789587720532
Colón-Ríos, J., (2012). Weak Constitutionalism. Routledge
Book chapters (11)
Colon-Rios, J., (2025). Constituent Assemblies. In: The Cambridge Handbook of Constitutional Theory. Editors: Bellamy, R. and King, J., . Cambridge University Press. 721- 735. 9781108868143
Velasco-Rivera, M. and Colon-Rios, J., (2023). The Material Constitution in Latin American Courts. In: The Cambridge Handbook of the Material Constitution. Editors: Goldoni, M. and Wilkinson, M., . Cambridge University Press. 275- 287. 9781009023764
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2020). The constitution of puerto rico. In: The Oxford Handbook of Caribbean Constitutions. Oxford University Press. 391- 418. 0198793049
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2020). Constitution Making through Law. In: Redrafting Constitutions in Democratic Regimes. Cambridge University Press. 33- 52. 9781108839846
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2020). Judicial Review and the Democratic Judge. In: Judicial Review Process, Powers, and Problems (Essays in Honour of Upendra Baxi). Editors: Khurshid, S., Luthra, S., Malik, L. and Bedi, S., . Cambridge University Press. 107- 126. 9781108870184
Colon-Rios, J., (2019). Constituent power, primary assemblies, and the imperative mandate. In: Comparative Constitution Making. Edward Elgar Publishing. 90- 116. 9781785365256
Colón-Ríos, J., (2018). Deliberative Democracy and the Doctrine of Unconstitutional Constitutional Amendments. In: The Cambridge Handbook of Deliberative Constitutionalism. Cambridge University Press. 271- 281
Colón-Ríos, J., (2018). Multi-Stage Constitution-Making: From South Africa to Chile?. In: Constitutional Triumphs, Constitutional Disappointments. Cambridge University Press. 294- 311
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2018). Theorising about formal constitutional change: The case of Latin America. In: Comparative Constitutional Theory. 354- 371
Colón-Ríos, J., (2017). Constitution making and constituent power. In: Comparative Constitutional Law in Latin America. Edward Elgar Publishing. 57- 86. 9781785369209
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2015). On the theory and practice of the rights of nature. In: The Search for Environmental Justice. Edward Elgar Publishing. 120- 134. 9781784719418
Reports and Papers (3)
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2022). The State of Comparative Constitutional Law: A Democratic Critique
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2021). Constituent Power and Referenda
Colón-Ríos, JI., (2021). El poder de una Asamblea Constituyente: reflexiones acerca de la Constitución de 1991 y su artículo 376 (The Power of a Constituent Assembly: Reflections on the Constitution of 1991 and its Article 376)
