Former Supreme Court chiefs urge Fachin to act over court’s 'most acute crisis'

Thirteen retired justices and former presidents of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court have asked its current president, Edson Fachin, to confront what they describe as the court’s “most acute crisis.”

In a statement issued Monday night, the former ministers called for Fachin to convene a public session so the full court could order an “immediate and rigorous investigation, with due process of law,” into what they called extremely serious facts. They said the disclosures were damaging the court’s prestige and authority, public confidence and even the stability of democratic institutions.

“

most acute crisis

The letter does not name Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has come under intense pressure after the release of conversations with Daniel Vorcaro, a banker at Banco Master. A Federal Police report said Banco Master paid 80 million reais to the law firm belonging to Moraes’s wife and that the justice amended the contract governing the commitment.

“

immediate and rigorous investigation, with due process of law

The crisis deepened on Tuesday, when Justice André Mendonça lifted the secrecy surrounding the police report. In response, Moraes asked in the fake-news inquiry that Mendonça be investigated for abuse of authority, administrative misconduct and a crime of responsibility. Fachin later removed Moraes’s request against Mendonça from that inquiry.

The retired justices said they had “full confidence in the seriousness, judgment and firmness” with which Fachin would lead the court and expressed their conviction that he would schedule the session “with all urgency.” The signatories include Celso de Mello and Rosa Weber, who served alongside Moraes on the court. Fachin has not yet decided how to proceed.

“

full confidence in the seriousness, judgment and firmness