Overview
- On his final day at the court, Luís Roberto Barroso asked for and received an extraordinary virtual session and cast a vote to remove criminal penalties for abortions up to 12 weeks.
- Shortly after Barroso’s vote, Gilmar Mendes filed a destaque that halted the virtual proceeding and sent the case to the physical plenary with no new hearing date set.
- Barroso’s opinion echoed Rosa Weber’s 2023 position and framed abortion in early pregnancy as a public-health issue rather than a criminal matter.
- In his vote, Barroso also proposed allowing nursing professionals to assist in lawful abortion procedures and shielding them from punishment, citing a care gap.
- Separately, the Senate’s Human Rights Committee approved PL 2,524/2024 to bar abortions after 22 weeks and to narrow exceptions, moving the bill on to the Social Affairs Committee for further review.