With Lula’s appointment, the Supreme Court will once again have a full complement of 11 ministers, 10 men and only one woman
The president (PT) this Thursday (November 20, 2025) the appointment of the Attorney General of the Union, Jorge Messias, 45 years old, to fill the vacancy open at the STF (Supreme Federal Court) with the of Minister Roberto Barroso, 67 years old, who retired early from the Court.
With Messias, the STF will once again have a full complement of 11 ministers, 10 men and only one woman.
Find out the current composition, with 10 ministers:
- Edson Fachin, do STF;
- Alexandre de Moraes, ;
- Gilmar Mendes, ;
- Carmen Lucia, (single woman);
- Toffoli Days, ;
- Luiz Fux, ;
- Nunes Brands, ;
- André Mendonça, ;
- Cristiano Zanin, ;
- Flavio Dino, .
See on the current composition.
Messiah will still need to pass a hearing and approval in the Senate before his official appointment and inauguration.
Here is how the analysis works in the Senate:
- Saturday at CCJ – the nominee undergoes a public hearing at the Constitution and Justice Commission. Senators ask questions about trajectory, opinions and legal understandings;
- vote in the CCJ – the commission votes on the nomination in secret. If there is a simple majority in favor (half plus one of those present), the name goes to the plenary;
- Senate plenary – the final decision is taken by the 81 senators. Also in a secret vote, the nominee must obtain an absolute majority, that is, at least 41 votes in favor;
- appointment and tenure – if approved, the President of the Republic signs the appointment and the new minister takes office at the STF.
Who is Jorge Messias
Jorge Rodrigo Araújo Messias is 45 years old and was born on February 25, 1980. He has been minister of the AGU (General Attorney’s Office) since the beginning of President Lula’s 3rd term, in December 2022.
He has a law degree from the Faculty of Law of Recife at UFPE (Federal University of Pernambuco) and a master’s and doctorate from UnB (University of Brasília). He was deputy head of Legal Affairs for the Presidency in the government (PT), Secretary of Regulation and Supervision of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education and legal advisor to the Ministries of Education and Science, Technology and Innovation.
He was also a prosecutor at the Central Bank and fiscal advisor at BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development), always in PT governments. He spent the last few years in the senator’s office (PT-BA) as a junior assistant.
In 2022, before being chosen minister, Messias led the six-fold list sent to Lula by Treasury prosecutors and Union lawyers with suggestions for command of the AGU. He has served as a prosecutor for the National Treasury since 2007.
Messias became known in 2016, when Lava Jato published a conversation between Lula and Dilma. At the time, the elected president was on the verge of becoming chief minister of the Civil House. Over the phone, Dilma said she was sending “Bessias” with the term of office, which should be used “if necessary”. She would be referring to the prerogative of privileged forum that ministers have.
With mandatory retirement at 75 years of age, Messias will be able to serve on the Court until 2055, if approved.
