OAB-SP Criticizes Lula's Remarks on Criminal Lawyers as 'Unacceptable Prejudice'

The São Paulo chapter of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB-SP) has issued a strong repudiation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's recent comments regarding criminal lawyers. During an interview on the 'Inteligência Ltda' podcast, Lula stated that criminal lawyers "don't know how to defend innocents" and that "criminal lawyers defend criminals."

These remarks have been met with sharp criticism from the OAB-SP, which described the president's statements as "unacceptable prejudice." The organization stressed that criminal lawyers are not defenders of crime itself. Instead, they uphold fundamental citizen guarantees, including the Constitution, due process, ample defense, and the adversarial principle.

The OAB-SP expressed concern that such stigmatizing language, especially coming from the president, contributes to societal misinformation and weakens the democratic rule of law. They argued that reinforcing these stereotypes undermines the essential role of the legal profession in a democratic society.

“

O advogado criminalista não defende o crime; defende a Constituição, o devido processo legal, a ampla defesa e o contraditório, garantias fundamentais asseguradas a todos os cidadãos.