Thirteen retired justices of Brazil's Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF), the country's top court, have asked its president, Justice Edson Fachin, to call an urgent public session so the full bench can order an "immediate and rigorous" investigation into the crisis gripping the tribunal. The statement was released on Monday night (Sept. 7), according to G1 and Folha de S.Paulo.
What the retired justices want
In the letter, the signatories describe the moment as the "most acute crisis" in the court's history. They express confidence in Fachin and say they expect the session to be called "with all urgency". The document reads:
"The retired justices and former presidents undersigned hereby express full confidence in the seriousness, discernment and firmness of Your Excellency in leading this Supreme Court, in the most acute crisis of its history, and the absolute conviction that Your Excellency will designate, with all urgency, a public session so that the full bench may determine an immediate and rigorous investigation, under due process of law, of the gravest facts whose disclosure has been compromising the prestige and authority of this Tribunal, the trust of the people and even the stability of democratic institutions", the letter to Fachin says.
The group includes Celso de Mello, Nelson Jobim, Ellen Gracie, Joaquim Barbosa and Rosa Weber. Thirteen names signed:
- Néri da Silveira
- Francisco Rezek
- Sydney Sanches
- Celso de Mello
- Carlos Velloso
- Ilmar Galvão
- Nelson Jobim
- Ellen Gracie
- Cezar Peluso
- Ayres Britto
- Joaquim Barbosa
- Eros Grau
- Rosa Weber
According to G1, the text names no sitting justice and does not specify which episodes should be investigated. The statement also stops short of asking for any member of the court to step aside.
How the crisis began
According to Folha, the crisis escalated on September 1, when Justice André Mendonça lifted the secrecy on a Federal Police report that showed exchanges between Justice Alexandre de Moraes and former banker Daniel Vorcaro. Moraes reacted by asking, in a filing in the so-called fake news inquiry, that Mendonça be investigated for abuse of authority, administrative improbity and crimes of responsibility. Days later, Fachin removed Moraes's request against Mendonça from the inquiry. The standoff has divided the court's justices.
Fachin has not yet scheduled the session requested by the retired justices. According to CNN Brasil, the court's president is awaiting explanations from Moraes and André Mendonça over the case. The letter's signatories expect the summons "with all urgency".