Overview

• Justice Luís Roberto Barroso signed his retirement request on Oct. 13 and will work through this week, returning cases he had taken for further review.
• President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signaled he will decide this week and said he wants a qualified Supreme Court minister rather than a friend who will uphold the Constitution.
• Attorney General Jorge Messias is widely reported as the favorite, while Rodrigo Pacheco, Bruno Dantas and Daniela Teixeira are also cited as possibilities and civil society groups press for a woman, especially a Black woman.
• CCJ president Otto Alencar stated he will not delay the sabatina and will place the hearing on the agenda as soon as the nomination reaches the committee.
• A recent STF decision provides lifelong institutional security to retired justices, so Barroso will retain an escort, and political figures such as Sóstenes Cavalcante and Damares Alves have criticized the possible choice of Messias as allies note Dilma Rousseff favors him but will not lobby Lula.