The inauguration of the presidency of the (Federal Supreme Court) was the first in history in which the (Public Defender’s Office) was called upon to occupy the table of the authorities.
The space was intended for the Supreme Ministers, the President of the (Brazilian Bar Association) and the Head of (Attorney General’s Office).
Fachin decided to break the tradition and invited the Defender to the post in a sign of prestige, equating the body responsible for defending the vulnerable to the PGR, in charge of the prosecution in criminal proceedings.
“For us this is very symbolic,” says DPU chief Leonardo Magalhães, in an interview with Sheet. “The Constitution gives the Public Defender’s Office the same treatment of the Public Prosecution Service, is what we call the parity of arms of defense and prosecution.”
Leonardo says he saw Fachin’s prestige to DPU a sign that, in his management, the promotion of rights to the poorest will be prioritized.
“President Fachin’s speech was to promote actions for dejudicialization, to conciliations, to expand access to justice of people in vulnerable situations, which is the target audience of the Public Defender’s Office. It is a very strong symbolic act,” he adds.
He says that one of his main concerns about acting in the Supreme has been the weakening of labor justice. The Court must judge two relevant cases in the coming months, on AEA between drivers and transport applications.
“I think these platforms also came to expand the population’s access, include these people in the job market. But it is also important to advance it. Our concern is social security protection, the protection of labor rights. This is going to be our work,” he says.
DPU was created in 1995 by a complementary law. It was a demand from the constituents, which included in the Federal Constitution of 1988 the duty of the State to guarantee free and integral legal assistance to the most vulnerable.
Leonardo Magalhães has been at the head of the Federal Public Defender’s Office since January 2024. His term end in early 2026. He was the most voted in the category in the formation of the triple list, with just over 70% of the votes, and should be reappointed by President Lula (PT) for office.
Gift Link: Did you like this text? Subscriber can release seven free hits from any link per day. Just click on F Blue below.
