Moreira Alves, former president of the STF, dies at age 90 – 10/06/2023 – Power

The former president of the STF (Supreme Federal Court) José Carlos Moreira Alves died this Friday (6) at the age of 90.

He had been admitted to the DF Star hospital, in Brasília, since September 23 and had multiple organ failure.

Moreira Alves was minister of the court from 1975 to 2003, when he retired, and presided over the Supreme Court between 1985 and 1987.

He was nominated to the Supreme Court by Ernesto Geisel, president during the military dictatorship. Previously, he had been Attorney General of the Republic, chosen by former President Emílio Médici.

In 1987, Moreira Alves was responsible for declaring the National Constituent Assembly installed and presided over its initial sessions.

The wake of the former president of the Supreme Court will be held at the court headquarters this Saturday (7). The current president of the STF, minister Luís Roberto Barroso, is in São Paulo and will return to Brasília to participate in the farewell.

In a statement, Barroso said that he receives the news of Moreira Alves’ death with great sadness and states that he is “one of the great jurists in the history of Brazil” and that he always honored the court.

“I leave my hug to the family, with the hope that the pain gives way to an eternal, yet joyful, longing for the good times lived”, said Barroso.

“I am sure that the legacy of Moreira Alves, which is present in our daily lives, will continue to live on in the judgments of this court.”

Edson Fachin, vice-president of the Supreme Court, said he received the news “with deep regret”.

“The work and legacy left by Minister Moreira Alves are solid to elevate the building built by him not only in civil law, but also in all law, whose indelible mark will remain as an example to be followed for future generations of jurists”, Fachin said.

On social media, Minister Alexandre de Moraes stated that he was a “great teacher, learned jurist and exemplary minister”.

Moraes said that Moreira Alves honored the STF “for almost 3 decades, with competence, loyalty and a great sense of justice” and “is an example for all magistrates”.

Minister Dias Toffoli stated that “it is a moment of great sadness and regret for the Brazilian legal community”.

Gilmar Mendes said that Moreira Alves “leaves an unavoidable legacy of teaching, jurisprudence and legal theory”. “The STF would not be what it is today without Moreira. Now it is moving on to become eternal”, he stated.

Minister Cristiano Zanin said that “the death of Minister Moreira Alves represents an enormous loss to the legal world, not only of a brilliant professor or avant-garde civilist, but also of a constitutional judge who exercised jurisdiction with a lot of personality and in an emblematic way “.