Retired Justices and OAB Demand Rigorous Investigation into STF Crisis

Thirteen retired justices of the Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF), including former presidents such as Joaquim Barbosa and Rosa Weber, have called on the court's president, Edson Fachin, to convene an urgent public session to investigate a crisis they describe as the most acute in the court's history. The retired ministers state that the current situation compromises the prestige of the court and the stability of democratic institutions. While the letter does not name specific individuals, the crisis centers on the disclosure of messages between Justice Alexandre de Moraes and banker Daniel Vorcaro, the former owner of Banco Master. The messages were made public on September 1 by Justice André Mendonça, who removed the secrecy of a Federal Police report. In response, Justice Moraes requested an investigation into Justice Mendonça for abuse of authority and crimes of responsibility. President Fachin subsequently removed Moraes' request from the fake news inquiry and moved the matter to a separate procedure under his own conduct. Beto Simonetti, president of the Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (OAB), has also called for quick and clear answers from the STF to restore public trust. While the national OAB council advocates for a rigorous and independent investigation without requesting the removal of authorities, several regional chapters in Paraná, Rondônia, Ceará, and Santa Catarina have explicitly called for the precautionary removal of Justice Moraes. Additionally, some regional chapters have questioned the impartiality of Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet. Justice Fachin recently postponed a scheduled meeting with OAB representatives, citing a high volume of demands for the presidency this week. The deadline for the involved parties to provide information to Justice Fachin expires on September 11.