Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) says Supreme Court does not have a "personal quota" for its president.
In an official statement, the Brazilian Bar Association spares Gilmar Mendes from criticism and uses strong adjectives to describe his gesture of requesting protection or preferential treatment from judges: "Dishonorable, shameful, and unacceptable."
247 – The website of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) published an official statement regarding the conversation that allegedly took place last month between former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes, as reported by Veja magazine. According to Mendes, Lula asked him to work towards postponing the Mensalão trial. The host of the meeting, former Minister Nelson Jobim, denied that such a dialogue occurred. The OAB, presided over by Ophyr Cavalcante, however, issued a statement emphasizing Mendes's version of events and using strong adjectives to describe the event, which it admits is "to be confirmed." Former President Lula has not yet made an official statement.
Below is a news item from the OAB website:
The Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) defends the independence of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) and demands an explanation from Lula.
Brasilia - The national president of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), Ophir Cavalcante, issued the following statement on Monday (28), in response to a report in Veja magazine, according to which former president Luis Inácio Lula da Silva was pressuring ministers of the Supreme Federal Court not to judge the mensalão case.
"The Supreme Federal Court, as the highest court in the Brazilian justice system, must remain immune to any kind of pressure or interference. Even though the process of appointing its members stems from a personal choice of the President of the Republic, it is not up to him to treat them as if they were part of his personal quota, demanding protection or privileged treatment, which, besides being dishonorable, shameful and unacceptable, would deprive the ministers of their independence and impartiality in the analysis of the facts submitted to them. These are fundamental conditions for the activity of the judge and inalienable guarantees of the democratic rule of law. If the content of the conversations held with a sitting minister of the Supreme Court is confirmed, it constitutes an extremely serious matter, and the former president, whose authority and prestige confer upon him public responsibility, must provide explanations for this gesture. At the same time, the Brazilian Bar Association reaffirms its confidence in the independence of the ministers of the Supreme Federal Court to judge, impartially and in due time, the demands that are constitutionally presented to them."