Possible Names to Succeed Barroso on the STF

Speculated for weeks, Luís Roberto Barroso’s early retirement, officialized this Thursday, is expected to intensify the competition for his seat on the Supreme Federal Court (STF). With the decision, President Lula (PT) may appoint his tenth minister to the STF. In his third term, the president chose Flávio Dino for Rosa Weber’s vacancy, retired in February of last year, and Cristiano Zanin, his former lawyer, to replace Ricardo Lewandowski. The rumors that Barroso would leave the court have circulated in Brasília for some time, but the topic gained traction just before the jurist left the presidency of the STF, sparking backstage articulations about a possible replacement. Leading the race is the Attorney General of the Union, Jorge Messias, considered a trusted ally of the president and in line with the government. Another contender is Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), former President of the Senate and close ally of STF Justice Gilmar Mendes. Also mentioned as potential candidates are TCU Minister Bruno Dantas and the Comptroller General of the Union, Vinícius Carvalho. Some speculate that the President may choose a woman and appoint Maria Elizabeth Rocha, current President of the Superior Military Tribunal. The magistrate has good relationships in the political and legal worlds, and her name gains strength amid social pressure for the appointment of another female minister, since the Supreme Court currently has only Cármen Lúcia. At 67 years old, Barroso could remain in office until 2033, when he would turn 75 and be required to retire. Appointed to the position by Dilma Rousseff in 2013, Barroso was one of the STF justices most affected by the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on the justices and their families. Besides having his visa revoked by the White House, his son Bernardo decided not to return to the United States, where he worked as a director at BTG Pactual bank in Miami. Last Monday, during an event in Salvador (BA), at the XVII Meeting of the Council of Presidents of the Courts of Justice of Brazil, Barroso signaled his departure from the Supreme Court. He said, ‘Life is made up of many cycles. We should know when to enter and when to leave.’ A day after passing the baton to Edson Fachin, the former STF president stated that there are ‘other relevant spaces in Brazilian life’ besides the Supreme Court, and that he was considering early retirement. Before that, he had affirmed to Folha de S.Paulo that he had made this commitment with his then-wife, who passed away in 2023. Barroso is expected to remain in office until next week, as he wants to advance some processes he considers important. Afterwards, he plans to travel to Europe, where he will participate in a spiritual retreat organized by Brahma Kumaris, a group founded in India in 1937 dedicated to ‘personal transformation and global renewal.’ He will also teach as a visiting professor at Sorbonne University in France after his period of seclusion.