The Senate approved on Wednesday (10) the appointment of the minister of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) Benedito Gonçalves for the position of national justice inspector. The minister will command the National Council of Justice (CNJ) from 2026 to 2028. The nomination received 53 votes in favor and 16 against.
With more than 50 years of career in public service, Benedito Gonçalves was a school inspector, Federal Police papilloscopist and Civil Police delegate before entering the judiciary.
His career as a judge only began at the age of 34, in 1988, when he was approved in a competition at the Federal Court of Rio Grande do Sul. He also worked at units in Rio de Janeiro and Paraná. Ten years later, in 1998, he was promoted to judge at the Federal Regional Court of the 2nd Region (TRF-2).
It was on August 28, 2008 that Gonçalves arrived at the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), where he is the only black person among 33 ministers.
The nomination’s rapporteur, senator Cid Gomes (PSB-CE), recalled the minister’s personal and professional trajectory and joined the senators from the base of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government for Gonçalves’ approval.
“Minister Benedito is the son of a bricklayer and a washing servant, of humble origins, black, from the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. He studied with great difficulty, took the public exam and rose to the Superior Court of Justice”, he said.
Benedito Gonçalves’ name faced little resistance to be approved. In the minister’s hearing at the Constitution and Justice Commission (CCJ), there were 21 votes in favor and five against.
Davi Alcolumbre’s effort
The approval of the minister’s name for the CNJ included a “concentrated effort” by Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil), president of the Senate, together with colleagues from the House.
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Gonçalves had his name linked to an event fueled by whiskey sponsored by banker Daniel Vorcaro. According to a report on the website Power 360the minister took part in a parallel event on the occasion: the tasting of Macallan whiskey (one of the most expensive and prestigious brands in the world) promoted by Vorcaro for authorities. The estimated cost of the party was R$3.3 million.
A previous vote to consider the minister’s name was canceled because Gonçalves might not be approved. On May 20, Alcolumbre interrupted the session after finding that only 59 of the 67 senators present registered a vote – an insufficient number to guarantee the necessary quorum, which requires an absolute majority of votes (41).
The CNJ, a body that Benedito can assume, is responsible for overseeing the administrative, financial and disciplinary actions of the Brazilian Judiciary, with the power to investigate and punish magistrates and civil servants. The council is also responsible for standardizing procedures and ensuring the transparency and efficiency of courts throughout the country.
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