Progress suspended

Justice Ricardo Lewandowski has not yet taken over as president of the CNJ (National Justice Council), but he has already suspended some of its decisions while serving as interim president of the Supreme Court, during the recent judicial recess.

One of the overturned decisions established regulations for the process of appointing auxiliary judges in São Paulo, after one judge was removed from his criminal trial court by the State Court for ruling against prosecutors. Another was the suspension of a judge from the state of Bahia who is under investigation in an administrative disciplinary case.

The JusDh (Justice and Human Rights Articulation) group, of which Conectas is part, has condemned the conduct of Justice Lewandowski. “The JusDh expresses its concern over these interim decisions, in the middle of recess, that use the acting presidency of a given justice to try and overturn important decisions, such as the suspension of a judge or the establishment of regulations for the appointment of auxiliary judges,” said the group in a public statement.

“There is a clear attempt to weaken the oversight role of the CNJ in favor of corporate interests and this undermines the transparency and the efficiency of the Judiciary.”

Click here to read the statement of the JusDh in full.

The Brazilian Constitution determines that presidents of the Supreme Court automatically serve as president of the CNJ. Lewandowski will take over the presidency on August 13.