Luís Roberto Barroso, minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), was elected on Tuesday, Dec. 6, to chair the 1st Panel of the Court in 2023.
Historically, the vote chooses the oldest member of the Panel who has not yet served as president.
However, Barroso was elected by acclamation, which is when the choice is unanimous among the ministers that make up the STF collegiate.
“Having the company of Your Excellencies has been an encouragement in this hard journey that we have chosen,” said the Justice. “But we must joyfully fulfill the missions that life gives us.”
Barroso will replace Justice Cármen Lúcia, who did not spare praise for the newly elected: “Your Excellency is a man who knows far beyond the Law,” said the current president of the 1st Panel.
In November, Barroso denied that he would anticipate his retirement.
The newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo published a report according to which the STF judge was considering leaving office early, opening the way for another nomination by the president-elect, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT, progressive-globalist).
In an interview with CNN Brazil, Barroso ironized the matter. “It can only be someone wanting my position,” he said.
After approving the Proposed Amendment to the Constitution 42/2003, better known as PEC da Bengala, the retirement age for Supreme Court justices was raised from 70 to 75. Thus, Barroso is expected to retire in 2033.