The Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) will resume judging Criminal Action 470 in August.

Deborah Zampier
Reporter from Agência Brasil

Brasilia – The Supreme Federal Court (STF) is expected to judge the first appeals in Criminal Action 470, the mensalão (monthly allowance) case, starting in the second half of August. According to the Court's press office, this is the wish of the Supreme Court president, Joaquim Barbosa, who is responsible for putting the case on the agenda.

According to the press office, the criminal case is not expected to be scheduled at the beginning of the month because Barbosa agreed to notify the Supreme Court justices ten days in advance about the approaching trial. Since the Supreme Court returns from recess on August 1st and only holds sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays, the trial could theoretically resume on August 14th.

The Court's leadership estimates that the judgment on the declaratory appeals will take about a month. The possibility of convening extra sessions on Mondays, as occurred last year, is also being considered. This measure will have to be approved by the justices to be implemented.

All 25 convicted defendants filed motions for clarification, in addition to businessman Carlos Alberto Quaglia, who was not tried by the Supreme Federal Court. He is requesting that his case be sent to the lower courts without the charge of forming a criminal organization. Most of the lawyers are requesting the acquittal of their clients or, alternatively, a reduction in their sentences.

The defendants who do not have special jurisdiction are seeking a new trial, as the Constitution guarantees the right to a second instance of jurisdiction. The lawyers also argue that the judgment is "flawed" and should be annulled because more than a thousand statements from the justices were omitted, hindering the understanding of the text. Some lawyers are requesting that Barbosa be replaced as the rapporteur for the case.

Editing: Fabio Massalli