Sepúlveda Pertence, former STF minister, dies at 85

Former Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Sepúlveda Pertence died early this Sunday (2) in Brasília, aged 85. He had been hospitalized at Hospital Sírio Libanês for about a week and suffered multiple organ failure.

The jurist from Minas Gerais was appointed to the STF by former president José Sarney, in 1989, a position he held until August 2007, when he retired. At times during this period, Pertence also held a chair at the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), having been president of the electoral court between 1993 and 1994 and in 2003. Before taking a chair at the STF, he was Attorney General of the Republic and Attorney General Electoral General. In 2007, he was appointed by then President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to be a member of the Public Ethics Commission, a position he held for three years.

More recently, he defended President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in Lava Jato cases at the STF, alongside lawyer Cristiano Zanin, who is due to assume a chair at the Supreme Court next month. He also articulated the appointment of Justice Cármen Lúcia to the STF in 2006.

In life, he received the decorations Ordem Rio Branco (Grand Cross); Order of Merit of the Armed Forces (Grand Officer); Order of Aeronautical Merit (Grand Officer); Inconfidência Medal (Grand Cross); Order of Merit of Brasilia (Grand Cross); Order of Judicial Labor Merit (Grand Cross).

STF ministers mourn the death of Sepúlveda Pertence

Minister Luís Roberto Barroso, of the STF, lamented the death of Pertence and stated that he was “one of the greatest who have ever passed through the STF”. “Brilliant, principled and adorable, he influenced generations of Brazilian jurists with his culture, patriotism and selflessness. He will be sorely missed by all of us,” he tweeted.

Minister Alexandre de Moraes also commented on the death of the jurist. “Brazil lost a great and tireless defender of Democracy with the death of Sepúlveda Pertence. A notable lawyer, jurist and Minister of the Federal Supreme Court, he will leave an eternal legacy of friendship, seriousness and justice. My condolences to his family”, he said.