With Fux’s change, Lula may have another appointee on the Panel that judges the coup plot

According to article 19 of the STF’s Internal Regulations, ministers can request a transfer between panels, respecting the order of seniority. Carmen Lúcia is the most senior member of the First Panel and, if she does not express interest in changing, Fux – the second most senior member of the panel – will automatically be transferred to the vacancy opened by Barroso. Therefore, the seat left by Fux in the First Panel will be available for the new minister to be appointed by Lula. The favorite so far is the Attorney General of the Union, Jorge Messias. The decision on which panel the new member will join depends on the existence of a vacancy and the president of the STF’s decision, after consulting with the other ministers. If the First Panel has only four members, the tendency is for the new name to be appointed to this panel.