President of the Supreme Federal Court

The President of the Supreme Federal Court is the highest-ranking officer of the Brazilian judiciary branch. The holder is also president of the National Council of Justice (CNJ).[1] Among their attributions are the representation of both the Court and the Council before the other branches of government and authorities, the presidency of plenary sessions of both institutions, enforce the Court and Council bylaws, the decision of points of order in both of its subjection to their respective floors, the decision of injunction during recess or vacation and swear in justices of the Supreme Court and councillors of CNJ.[2][3]

President of the Supreme Federal Court
Incumbent
Luis Roberto Barroso
since 28 September 2023
Supreme Federal Court
StyleMr. President
(informal)
Your Excellency
(within court)
The Most Excellent Mr. President
(formal)
StatusChief justice
Member ofFederal judiciary
National Council of Justice
SeatSupreme Federal Court Palace, Brasília, Federal District
NominatorMembers of the Supreme Court
Term lengthTwo years
not renewable
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Brazil
Formation8 January 1829; 195 years ago (1829-01-08)
First holderJosé Albano Fragoso (Supreme Court of Justice)
Freitas Henriques (Supreme Federal Court)
SuccessionFourth
Salary$39,293 BRL
Websitestf.jus.br

The President and Vice President of the Supreme Court are elected by the other justices in a secret ballot, with minimum quorum of 8 justices, in a two-round system for a two years term, forbidden a re-election for a new term.[2] Usually, the justices vote in the senior one who didn't assumed the presidency, while they vote in the second senior justice in the same situation. The tradition present in most part of the republican history of the country is the election of the Vice President, after the end of the term, by their peers, to assume the presidency. The self-government and self determination of the Supreme Federal Court with regards of the choice of its President didn't exist in two historical periods: during the monarchy, the Emperor of Brazil appointed the President of the Supreme Court of Justice for a three years term, renewable;[4] under the Constitution of 1937, the President of Brazil appointed, for undetermined time, among the justice of the current composition, the President of the Court.[5][6]

The President of the Supreme Federal Court is the fourth in the Brazilian presidential line of succession and can hold the office of President of the Federal Senate in exceptional situations. The longest presidency was held by Hermínio do Espírito Santo for 13 years and 312 days, while the shortest was held by Leoni Ramos for 23 days.[6] The Presidents who appointed the most Presidents of the Supreme Court were Getúlio Vargas and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with six appointments each. The current President is justice Luís Roberto Barroso since 28 September 2023.[7]

Presidents of the Supreme Court of Justice (1829–1891)

No.PortraitJusticeTook officeLeft officeTime in officeAppointer
1José Albano Fragoso
(1768–1843)
8 January 1829 (1829-01-08)5 January 1832 (1832-01-05)2 years, 362 daysPedro I
2Lucas Antônio Monteiro de Barros, Viscount of Congonhas do Campo
(1767–1851)
5 January 1832 (1832-01-05)3 March 1842 (1842-03-03)10 years, 57 daysPermanent Triumviral Regency
3José Bernardo de Figueiredo
(1769–1854)
26 April 1842 (1842-04-26)13 October 1849 (1849-10-13)7 years, 170 daysPedro II
4Francisco de Paula Pereira Duarte
(1784–1855)
17 October 1849 (1849-10-17)15 June 1855 (1855-06-15)5 years, 241 daysPedro II
5Manuel Pinto Ribeiro Pereira de Sampaio
(1780–1857)
15 February 1856 (1856-02-15)27 September 1857 (1857-09-27)1 year, 224 daysPedro II
6Joaquim José Pinheiro de Vasconcelos, Viscount of Monserrate
(1799–1879)
27 September 1857 (1857-09-27)5 February 1864 (1864-02-05)6 years, 131 daysPedro II
7Joaquim Marcelino de Brito
(1799–1879)
5 February 1864 (1864-02-05)27 January 1879 (1879-01-27)14 years, 356 daysPedro II
8João Antônio de Vasconcelos
(1802–1880)
1 February 1879 (1879-02-01)21 November 1880 (1880-11-21)1 year, 294 daysPedro II
9Albino José Barbosa de Oliveira
(1809–1889)
27 November 1880 (1880-11-27)14 June 1882 (1882-06-14)1 year, 199 daysPedro II
10Manuel de Jesus Valdetaro, Viscount of Valdetaro
(1807–1897)
14 June 1882 (1882-06-14)27 November 1886 (1886-11-27)4 years, 166 daysPedro II
11João Evangelista de Negreiros, Viscount of Sabará
(1817–1894)
27 November 1886 (1886-11-27)26 February 1891 (1891-02-26)4 years, 91 daysPedro II

Presidents of the Supreme Federal Court (1891–present)

No.PortraitJusticeTook officeLeft officeTime in officeAppointer
1Freitas Henriques
(1822–1903)
28 February 1891 (1891-02-28)9 February 1894 (1894-02-09)2 years, 346 daysDeodoro da Fonseca (Ind)
2Aquino e Castro
(1828–1906)
28 February 1894 (1894-02-28)10 August 1906 (1906-08-10)12 years, 163 daysDeodoro da Fonseca (Ind)
3Piza e Almeida
(1842–1908)
18 August 1906 (1906-08-18)22 April 1908 (1908-04-22)1 year, 248 daysDeodoro da Fonseca (Ind)
4Pindaíba de Matos
(1831–1913)
29 April 1908 (1908-04-29)26 December 1910 (1910-12-26)2 years, 241 daysFloriano Peixoto (Ind)
5Hermínio do Espírito Santo
(1842–1924)
4 January 1911 (1911-01-04)11 November 1924 (1924-11-11)13 years, 312 daysFloriano Peixoto (Ind)
6André Cavalcanti
(1834–1927)
14 November 1924 (1924-11-14)13 February 1927 (1927-02-13)2 years, 91 daysPrudente de Morais (PR Federal)
7Godofredo Cunha
(1860–1936)
22 February 1927 (1927-02-22)17 February 1931 (1931-02-17)3 years, 360 daysNilo Peçanha (PRF)
8Leoni Ramos
(1857–1931)
25 February 1931 (1931-02-25)20 March 1931 (1931-03-20)23 daysNilo Peçanha (PRF)
9Edmundo Lins
(1863–1944)
1 April 1931 (1931-04-01)15 November 1937 (1937-11-15)6 years, 228 daysVenceslau Brás (Minas Republican Party)
10Bento de Faria
(1876–1959)
19 November 1937 (1937-11-19)18 November 1940 (1940-11-18)2 years, 365 daysArtur Bernardes (Minas Republican Party)
11Eduardo Espínola
(1875–1968)
20 November 1940 (1940-11-20)24 May 1945 (1945-05-24)4 years, 185 daysGetúlio Vargas (Ind)
12José Linhares
(1886–1957)
26 May 1945 (1945-05-26)31 January 1949 (1949-01-31)3 years, 250 daysGetúlio Vargas (Ind)
13Laudo de Camargo
(1881–1963)
31 January 1949 (1949-01-31)24 April 1951 (1951-04-24)2 years, 83 daysGetúlio Vargas (Ind)
14José Linhares
(1886–1957)
2 May 1951 (1951-05-02)30 January 1956 (1956-01-30)4 years, 273 daysGetúlio Vargas (Ind)
15Orozimbo Nonato
(1891–1974)
30 January 1956 (1956-01-30)26 January 1960 (1960-01-26)3 years, 361 daysGetúlio Vargas (Ind)
16Barros Barreto
(1895–1969)
29 January 1960 (1960-01-29)28 January 1962 (1962-01-28)1 year, 364 daysGetúlio Vargas (Ind)
17Lafayette de Andrada
(1900–1974)
29 January 1962 (1962-01-29)10 December 1963 (1963-12-10)1 year, 315 daysJosé Linhares (Ind)
18Ribeiro da Costa
(1897–1967)
11 December 1963 (1963-12-11)4 December 1966 (1966-12-04)2 years, 358 daysJosé Linhares (Ind)
19Luís Gallotti
(1904–1978)
14 December 1966 (1966-12-14)11 December 1968 (1968-12-11)1 year, 363 daysEurico Gaspar Dutra (PSD)
20Gonçalves de Oliveira
(1910–1992)
11 December 1968 (1968-12-11)18 January 1969 (1969-01-18)38 daysJuscelino Kubitschek (PSD)
Luís Gallotti
(1904–1978)
Acting
18 January 1969 (1969-01-18)10 February 1969 (1969-02-10)23 daysEurico Gaspar Dutra (PSD)
21Oswaldo Trigueiro
(1905–1989)
10 February 1969 (1969-02-10)10 February 1971 (1971-02-10)2 years, 0 daysCastelo Branco (ARENA)
22Aliomar Baleeiro
(1905–1978)
10 February 1971 (1971-02-10)9 February 1973 (1973-02-09)1 year, 365 daysCastelo Branco (ARENA)
23Eló da Rocha
(1907–1999)
9 February 1973 (1973-02-09)14 February 1975 (1975-02-14)2 years, 5 daysCastelo Branco (ARENA)
24Djaci Falcão
(1919–2012)
14 February 1975 (1975-02-14)14 February 1977 (1977-02-14)2 years, 0 daysCastelo Branco (ARENA)
25Thompson Flores
(1911–2001)
14 February 1977 (1977-02-14)14 February 1979 (1979-02-14)2 years, 0 daysCosta e Silva (ARENA)
26Antônio Neder
(1911–2003)
14 February 1979 (1979-02-14)16 February 1981 (1981-02-16)2 years, 2 daysEmílio Garrastazu Médici (ARENA)
27Xavier de Albuquerque
(1926–2015)
16 February 1981 (1981-02-16)21 February 1983 (1983-02-21)2 years, 5 daysEmílio Garrastazu Médici (ARENA)
28Cordeiro Guerra
(1916–1993)
21 February 1983 (1983-02-21)25 February 1985 (1985-02-25)2 years, 4 daysErnesto Geisel (ARENA)
29Moreira Alves
(1933–2023)
25 February 1985 (1985-02-25)2 March 1987 (1987-03-02)2 years, 5 daysErnesto Geisel (ARENA)
30Rafael Mayer
(1919–2013)
2 March 1987 (1987-03-02)14 March 1989 (1989-03-14)2 years, 12 daysErnesto Geisel (ARENA)
31Néri da Silveira
(born 1932)
14 March 1989 (1989-03-14)14 March 1991 (1991-03-14)2 years, 0 daysJoão Figueiredo (PDS)
32Aldir Passarinho
(1921–2014)
14 March 1991 (1991-03-14)22 April 1991 (1991-04-22)39 daysJoão Figueiredo (PDS)
33Sydney Sanches
(born 1933)
10 May 1991 (1991-05-10)13 May 1993 (1993-05-13)2 years, 3 daysJoão Figueiredo (PDS)
34Octavio Gallotti
(born 1930)
13 May 1993 (1993-05-13)17 May 1995 (1995-05-17)2 years, 4 daysJoão Figueiredo (PDS)
35Sepúlveda Pertence
(1937–2023)
17 May 1995 (1995-05-17)20 May 1997 (1997-05-20)1 year, 307 daysJosé Sarney (MDB)
36Celso de Mello
(born 1945)
22 May 1997 (1997-05-22)27 May 1999 (1999-05-27)2 years, 5 daysJosé Sarney (MDB)
37Carlos Velloso
(born 1936)
27 May 1999 (1999-05-27)31 May 2001 (2001-05-31)2 years, 4 daysFernando Collor (PRN)
38Marco Aurélio Mello
(born 1946)
31 May 2001 (2001-05-31)5 June 2003 (2003-06-05)2 years, 5 daysFernando Collor (PRN)
39Maurício Corrêa
(1934–2012)
5 June 2003 (2003-06-05)8 August 2004 (2004-08-08)1 year, 64 daysItamar Franco (MDB)
40Nelson Jobim
(born 1946)
20 August 2004 (2004-08-20)29 March 2006 (2006-03-29)1 year, 221 daysFernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB)
41Ellen Gracie
(born 1948)
27 April 2006 (2006-04-27)23 April 2008 (2008-04-23)1 year, 362 daysFernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB)
42Gilmar Mendes
(born 1955)
23 April 2008 (2008-04-23)23 April 2010 (2010-04-23)0 daysFernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB)
43Cezar Peluso
(born 1942)
23 April 2010 (2010-04-23)19 April 2012 (2012-04-19)1 year, 362 daysLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT)
44Ayres Britto
(born 1942)
19 April 2012 (2012-04-19)17 November 2012 (2012-11-17)212 daysLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT)
45Joaquim Barbosa
(born 1954)
22 November 2012 (2012-11-22)31 July 2014 (2014-07-31)1 year, 251 daysLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT)
46Ricardo Lewandowski
(born 1948)
10 September 2014 (2014-09-10)12 September 2016 (2016-09-12)2 years, 2 daysLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT)
47Cármen Lúcia
(born 1954)
12 September 2016 (2016-09-12)13 September 2018 (2018-09-13)2 years, 1 dayLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT)
48Dias Toffoli
(born 1967)
13 September 2018 (2018-09-13)10 September 2020 (2020-09-10)1 year, 363 daysLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT)
49Luiz Fux
(born 1953)
10 September 2020 (2020-09-10)12 September 2022 (2022-09-12)2 years, 2 daysDilma Rousseff (PT)
50Rosa Weber
(born 1948)
12 September 2022 (2022-09-12)28 September 2023 (2023-09-28)1 year, 16 daysDilma Rousseff (PT)
51Luís Roberto Barroso
(born 1958)
28 September 2023 (2023-09-28)Incumbent212 daysDilma Rousseff (PT)

Timeline

Luís Roberto BarrosoRosa WeberLuiz FuxDias ToffoliCármen LúciaRicardo LewandowskiJoaquim BarbosaAyres BrittoCezar PelusoGilmar MendesEllen Gracie NorthfleetNelson JobimMarco Aurélio MelloJosé Celso de Mello FilhoMoreira AlvesJosé Linhares

References