The minister of the (Supreme Federal Court) stated this Thursday (16) that she always expects there to be more women in the court. The speech takes place in a context in which President Lula (PT) will nominate a new minister to replace, whose early retirement was made official in the Official Gazette of the Union on the 15th.
HAS Sheet the minister stated that having more women would be important to ensure that the collegiate vision in the court represents Brazilian society.
“The spaces, not just of power, but the spaces of participation, of action by women and men, are what make visions collegial, in the sense that Brazilian society is all represented. We are 52% of the Brazilian population, almost 53% of the electorate. So it is important that everywhere we have women. We have very competent women in the law. Great judges, great prosecutors, public lawyers, many great professors right here, at USP”, he stated.
The speech took place during an event at the USP Law School, in the center of São Paulo, where the minister was honored, gave a lecture and participated in an autograph session for one of her books, “Constitutional Principle of Solidarity”.
Currently the minister is the only woman on the court. With the announcement of Barroso’s early retirement, pressure increases for the president to nominate another woman to the Supreme Court and also take racial criteria into account.
The PT member only chose what he was able to do for the court throughout his three terms. Apart from her, only two other women made up the court, and Ellen Gracie, appointed by and , respectively. All three are white.
As shown by Sheetare the minister of the TCU (Court of Auditors of the Union) Bruno Dantas, the attorney general of the Union, , favorite for the position, and the senator (-MG).
Cármen was honored at the event with the Professor Dalmo Dallari medal, an initiative by Anape (National Association of State and Federal District Attorneys), for her legal career.
Upon receiving the medal, she made the first demonstration she would give throughout the event, in a discreet tone, in honor of women. “We women know how to put ourselves and dress ourselves”, she stated upon being awarded the object.
Cármen mentioned historically silenced women, black people and indigenous people when discussing the 37 years of the Constitution. She spoke about the importance of diverse people being together and exchanging experiences to build an effectively democratic Brazil.
The minister also cited mothers as those who are an example of solidarity, a constitutional principle discussed in her book. “There is no greater solidarity that God has left as an example than that of mothers”, he stated.
Cármen recalled article 3 of the Constitution, which cites a “free, fair and supportive society” as the fundamental objective of the Republic, and said that solidarity is at risk when distrust predominates in society.
She focused on the current influence of social networks on political dynamics in Brazil, with fake news that discredits the legal system and can lead to democratic erosion. “I work with the idea that democracy lives on the principle of trust”, he stated, associating trusting citizens with the exercise of solidarity.
Present at the ceremony, Patricia Werner, attorney for the state of São Paulo and CEO of Esnap, Anape’s higher education school, reinforced the minister’s speech about the need for more women in the STF. She stated that it is necessary to remedy the lack of diversity in a scenario where there is an abundance of competent women to occupy the position.
He also said that “inclusion and equality are a big topic” for the prosecutors, who were also mobilized about the discussion in favor of a woman in the STF.
Cármen Lúcia has spoken out in favor of women. On more than one occasion, she cited the silencing practiced against them, whether in a speech, in 2024, during a solemn session on March 8, or in the criminal action that sentenced former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) to 27 years in prison for leading the coup plot. “We women have been silent for two thousand years, we want to have the right to speak”, she said at the time, giving speaking time to Minister Flávio Dino.
