Before a new minister of the (Federal Supreme Court) is chosen, the nominee must go through a hearing at the (Constitution and Justice Commission), a question and answer session in which senators test their knowledge and investigate their past.
After this interrogation, the senators vote on whether or not to accept the nominated name. However, as the vote is secret, the individual position of each senator is not officially disclosed.
A Sheet revisited the shorthand notes from the sessions, which over the last two decades . At the top of the duration list is the minister. In 2015, under a climate of strong tension between the government (PT) and Congress, Fachin faced 12 hours and 39 minutes of hearings, being approved by the commission by 20 votes to 7.
According to official records, the session was exhausting both in terms of its duration, the intensity of the questions and the attempts to prevent the hearing itself from taking place. to explain various texts and prefaces written throughout his career on controversial topics, such as property rights, polygamy and abortion.
After Fachin’s process, other sessions began to lengthen, followed by hearings in (2017), lasting 11 hours and 39 minutes, and in (2023), which lasted 10 hours and 38 minutes.
The trend of sessions lasting more than 10 hours also appeared in the indications made during the (PL) government. In 2020, he faced a 10 hour and 1 minute hearing, in a session adapted to the distancing protocols of the Covid-19 pandemic.
current rapporteur of the case, waited, in 2021, four months for his hearing to be scheduled and faced 7 hours and 55 minutes of session.
Under Lula’s third term, the lawyer underwent 7 hours and 48 minutes of questions in June 2023.
This time level is similar to the cases of and of the current president of the STF, . In 2009, Toffoli, former rapporteur of the Master case, was questioned for 7 hours and 44 minutes. Barroso, in 2013, had a session of 7 hours and 22 minutes.
In 2011, the former minister faced 6 hours and 31 minutes. Shortly before, in 2002, his nomination was analyzed in 4 hours and 39 minutes, with a result of 16 to 6.
passed the commission in 3 hours and 58 minutes in 2011. finished his session in 2 hours and 23 minutes in 2006 and retired in 2023.
At the end of the list, the shortest session took place in 2006, with the minister, lasting 2 hours and 11 minutes. Approval was unanimous, in a session marked by praise from the opposition to the government at the time.
NEXT SABBATH
This Wednesday (29) it will be the turn of the Union’s attorney general, appointed by President Lula (), to participate in the hearing to fill a vacancy in the STF.
In addition to the hearing at the CCJ, Messias must receive an absolute majority of votes in the plenary, that is, be approved by at least 41 senators in a secret vote.
Between the Legislature and the STF, Messias must defend to the senators that the separation between the Powers is essential and the Judiciary, at times, advances in the prerogatives of the Parliament and the Executive. It must state that judges need to have limits and that a code of ethics for the judiciary would be important.
Ranking of the duration of hearings, in the last two decades
Edson Fachin (2015)
12 hours and 39 minutes
Approved in the CCJ by 20 votes to 7. In the plenary by 52 to 27.
Alexandre de Moraes (2017)
11 hours and 39 minutes
Approved by the CCJ by 19 votes to 7. In the plenary by 55 to 13.
Flávio Dino (2023)
10 hours and 38 minutes
Approved by the CCJ by 17 votes to 10. In the plenary by 47 to 31.
Kassio Nunes Marques (2020)
10 hours and 1 minute
Approved by the CCJ by 22 votes to 5. In the plenary by 57 to 10.
André Mendonça (2021)
7 hours and 55 minutes
Approved by the CCJ by 18 votes to 9. In the plenary by 47 to 32.
Cristiano Zanin (2023)
7 hours and 48 minutes
Approved by the CCJ by 21 votes to 5. In the plenary by 58 to 18.
Toffoli Days (2009)
7 hours and 44 minutes
Approved by the CCJ by 20 votes to 3. In the plenary by 58 to 9.
Luís Roberto Barroso (2013)
7 hours and 22 minutes
Approved in the CCJ by 26 votes to 1. In the plenary by 59 to 6.
Rosa Weber (2011)
6 hours and 31 minutes
Approved by the CCJ by 19 votes to 3. In the plenary by 57 to 14.
Gilmar Mendes (2002)
4 hours and 39 minutes
Approved by the CCJ by 16 votes to 6. In the plenary by 57 to 15.
Luiz Fux (2011)
3 hours and 58 minutes
Approved by the CCJ by 23 votes to zero. In the plenary by 68 to 2.
Ricardo Lewandowski (2006)
2 hours and 23 minutes
Approved in the CCJ by 21 votes to 1. In the plenary by 63 to 4.
Carmen Lúcia (2006)
2 hours and 11 minutes
Approved by the CCJ by 23 votes to zero. In the plenary by 55 to 1.
