Vittorio Denti, who passed away on 28th November 2001, was one of the founders of Sociologia del diritto and served as a member of the journal’s editorial committee ever since. A renowned specialist in civil procedural law, which he taught in the Law Faculty at the University of Pavia, he devoted his writings to both legal dogmatics and the reform of the Italian system of justice. He took a special interest in the access to justice and class actions, with an eye for such substantive themes as environmental protection and the rights of the more disadvantaged. In his view, civil justice could not be separated from social justice.