Renowned Jurist Files Impeachment Petition Against Brazil’s Supreme Court President

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Well-known jurist Modesto Carvalhosa filed a motion for impeachment on Wednesday, July 24th, against the presiding justice of the Supreme Court, Dias Toffoli.

The argument is that the justice has committed 59 crimes while in office, involving suspicion in trials or breach of propriety.

The presiding justice of the court allegedly committed a crime on 23 occasions by being suspected in cases, once for negligence in the performance of his duties in office and another 35 events for “acting in a fashion incompatible with honor, dignity, and propriety in the functions of an STF Justice.”

According to the complaint, Toffoli would also be the central player in a corruption scheme involving, among others, former president Lula, leaders of the Workers’ Party and justice Gilmar Mendes.

The jurist points out that the purpose of the criminal organization was to build “a network of peers, who share personal, professional, partisan and business relationships.”

Toffoli and those involved purportedly worked within the structure to commit crimes of corruption, cover up illicit acts, and promote “false ideologies under the pretext of legitimacy until hypnosis or brainwashing occurs.”

Further according to the complaint, the scheme’s origin dates back to the Cuban Revolution of 1959, and it would later include the establishment of the Forum of São Paulo in the 1990s, culminating in the creation of the Mensalão in 2005, already under Lula’s administration.

“Dias Toffoli has violated the dignity of justice,” writes the jurist in the request. “The effects
of his decision are unprecedented, only seen among violent and unscrupulous dictators.”

The petition for the impeachment of the justice of the Supreme Court is submitted to the Senate, which then convenes a special committee to assess, vote, and forward the denunciation to the Chamber.

To permanently remove a member of the court, two thirds of the 81 members of the Chamber of Deputies are required to vote in favor.