# President of the Supreme Federal Court

The President of the Supreme Federal Court is the highest-ranking officer of the Brazilian judiciary branch. The holder is also president of the National Council of Justice (CNJ). Among their responsibilities are representing both the Court and the council before other branches of government and authorities, presiding over plenary sessions of both institutions, enforcing the bylaws of the Court and Council, deciding points of order in their respective sessions, making decisions on injunctions during recess or vacation, and swearing in justices of the Supreme Court and councillors of the CNJ.
The President and Vice President of the Supreme Court are elected by the other justices in a secret ballot, with a minimum quorum of eight justices, in a two-round system for a two-year term, with re-election for a new term prohibited. Usually, the justices vote for the most senior justice who has not yet served as president, and they vote for the second most senior justice in the same situation as vice president. The tradition, present during most of the country's republican history, is for the Vice President to be elected by their peers to assume the presidency after the end of their term. The self-governance and self-determination of the Supreme Federal Court regarding the choice of its president did not exist in two historical periods. During the monarchy, the Emperor of Brazil appointed the President of the Supreme Court of Justice for a renewable three-year term. Under the Constitution of 1937, the President of Brazil appointed the President of the Court from among the justices of the current composition for an indefinite term.
The President of the Supreme Federal Court is fourth in the Brazilian presidential line of succession and can hold the office of President of the Federal Senate in exceptional situations. The longest presidency was held by Hermínio do Espírito Santo for 13 years and 312 days, while the shortest was held by Leoni Ramos for 23 days. The Brazilian Presidents who appointed the most Presidents of the Supreme Court were Getúlio Vargas and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with six appointments each. The current President is Justice Luís Roberto Barroso, who has held the position since 28 September 2023.

## Presidents of the Supreme Court of Justice (1829–1891)

| No. | Justice | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Appointer |
| 1 | José Albano Fragoso (1768–1843) | 8 January 1829 (1829-01-08) | 5 January 1832 (1832-01-05) | 2 years, 362 days | Pedro I |
| 2 | Lucas Antônio Monteiro de Barros, Viscount of Congonhas do Campo (1767–1851) | 5 January 1832 (1832-01-05) | 3 March 1842 (1842-03-03) | 10 years, 57 days | Permanent Triumviral Regency |
| 3 | José Bernardo de Figueiredo (1769–1854) | 26 April 1842 (1842-04-26) | 13 October 1849 (1849-10-13) | 7 years, 170 days | Pedro II |
| 4 | Francisco de Paula Pereira Duarte (1784–1855) | 17 October 1849 (1849-10-17) | 15 June 1855 (1855-06-15) | 5 years, 241 days | Pedro II |
| 5 | Manuel Pinto Ribeiro Pereira de Sampaio (1780–1857) | 15 February 1856 (1856-02-15) | 27 September 1857 (1857-09-27) | 1 year, 224 days | Pedro II |
| 6 | Joaquim José Pinheiro de Vasconcelos, Viscount of Monserrate (1799–1879) | 27 September 1857 (1857-09-27) | 5 February 1864 (1864-02-05) | 6 years, 131 days | Pedro II |
| 7 | Joaquim Marcelino de Brito (1799–1879) | 5 February 1864 (1864-02-05) | 27 January 1879 (1879-01-27) | 14 years, 356 days | Pedro II |
| 8 | João Antônio de Vasconcelos (1802–1880) | 1 February 1879 (1879-02-01) | 21 November 1880 (1880-11-21) | 1 year, 294 days | Pedro II |
| 9 | Albino José Barbosa de Oliveira (1809–1889) | 27 November 1880 (1880-11-27) | 14 June 1882 (1882-06-14) | 1 year, 199 days | Pedro II |
| 10 | Manuel de Jesus Valdetaro, Viscount of Valdetaro (1807–1897) | 14 June 1882 (1882-06-14) | 27 November 1886 (1886-11-27) | 4 years, 166 days | Pedro II |
| 11 | João Evangelista de Negreiros, Viscount of Sabará (1817–1894) | 27 November 1886 (1886-11-27) | 26 February 1891 (1891-02-26) | 4 years, 91 days | Pedro II |

## Presidents of the Supreme Federal Court (1891–present)

| No. | Justice | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Appointer |
| 1 | Freitas Henriques (1822–1903) | 28 February 1891 (1891-02-28) | 9 February 1894 (1894-02-09) | 2 years, 346 days | Deodoro da Fonseca (Ind) |
| 2 | Aquino e Castro (1828–1906) | 28 February 1894 (1894-02-28) | 10 August 1906 (1906-08-10) | 12 years, 163 days | Deodoro da Fonseca (Ind) |
| 3 | Piza e Almeida (1842–1908) | 18 August 1906 (1906-08-18) | 22 April 1908 (1908-04-22) | 1 year, 248 days | Deodoro da Fonseca (Ind) |
| 4 | Pindaíba de Matos (1831–1913) | 29 April 1908 (1908-04-29) | 26 December 1910 (1910-12-26) | 2 years, 241 days | Floriano Peixoto (Ind) |
| 5 | Hermínio do Espírito Santo (1842–1924) | 4 January 1911 (1911-01-04) | 11 November 1924 (1924-11-11) | 13 years, 312 days | Floriano Peixoto (Ind) |
| 6 | André Cavalcanti (1834–1927) | 14 November 1924 (1924-11-14) | 13 February 1927 (1927-02-13) | 2 years, 91 days | Prudente de Morais (PR Federal) |
| 7 | Godofredo Cunha (1860–1936) | 22 February 1927 (1927-02-22) | 17 February 1931 (1931-02-17) | 3 years, 360 days | Nilo Peçanha (PRF) |
| 8 | Leoni Ramos (1857–1931) | 25 February 1931 (1931-02-25) | 20 March 1931 (1931-03-20) | 23 days | Nilo Peçanha (PRF) |
| 9 | Edmundo Lins (1863–1944) | 1 April 1931 (1931-04-01) | 15 November 1937 (1937-11-15) | 6 years, 228 days | Venceslau Brás (PRM) |
| 10 | Bento de Faria (1876–1959) | 19 November 1937 (1937-11-19) | 18 November 1940 (1940-11-18) | 2 years, 365 days | Artur Bernardes (PRM) |
| 11 | Eduardo Espínola (1875–1968) | 20 November 1940 (1940-11-20) | 24 May 1945 (1945-05-24) | 4 years, 185 days | Getúlio Vargas (Ind) |
| 12 | José Linhares (1886–1957) | 26 May 1945 (1945-05-26) | 31 January 1949 (1949-01-31) | 3 years, 250 days | Getúlio Vargas (Ind) |
| 13 | Laudo de Camargo (1881–1963) | 31 January 1949 (1949-01-31) | 24 April 1951 (1951-04-24) | 2 years, 83 days | Getúlio Vargas (Ind) |
| 14 | José Linhares (1886–1957) | 2 May 1951 (1951-05-02) | 30 January 1956 (1956-01-30) | 4 years, 273 days | Getúlio Vargas (Ind) |
| 15 | Orozimbo Nonato (1891–1974) | 30 January 1956 (1956-01-30) | 26 January 1960 (1960-01-26) | 3 years, 361 days | Getúlio Vargas (Ind) |
| 16 | Barros Barreto (1895–1969) | 29 January 1960 (1960-01-29) | 28 January 1962 (1962-01-28) | 1 year, 364 days | Getúlio Vargas (Ind) |
| 17 | Lafayette de Andrada (1900–1974) | 29 January 1962 (1962-01-29) | 10 December 1963 (1963-12-10) | 1 year, 315 days | José Linhares (Ind) |
| 18 | Ribeiro da Costa (1897–1967) | 11 December 1963 (1963-12-11) | 4 December 1966 (1966-12-04) | 2 years, 358 days | José Linhares (Ind) |
| 19 | Luís Gallotti (1904–1978) | 14 December 1966 (1966-12-14) | 11 December 1968 (1968-12-11) | 1 year, 363 days | Eurico Gaspar Dutra (PSD) |
| 20 | Gonçalves de Oliveira (1910–1992) | 11 December 1968 (1968-12-11) | 18 January 1969 (1969-01-18) | 38 days | Juscelino Kubitschek (PSD) |
| – | Luís Gallotti (1904–1978) Acting | 18 January 1969 (1969-01-18) | 10 February 1969 (1969-02-10) | 23 days | Eurico Gaspar Dutra (PSD) |
| 21 | Oswaldo Trigueiro (1905–1989) | 10 February 1969 (1969-02-10) | 10 February 1971 (1971-02-10) | 2 years, 0 days | Castelo Branco (ARENA) |
| 22 | Aliomar Baleeiro (1905–1978) | 10 February 1971 (1971-02-10) | 9 February 1973 (1973-02-09) | 1 year, 365 days | Castelo Branco (ARENA) |
| 23 | Elói da Rocha (1907–1999) | 9 February 1973 (1973-02-09) | 14 February 1975 (1975-02-14) | 2 years, 5 days | Castelo Branco (ARENA) |
| 24 | Djaci Falcão (1919–2012) | 14 February 1975 (1975-02-14) | 14 February 1977 (1977-02-14) | 2 years, 0 days | Castelo Branco (ARENA) |
| 25 | Thompson Flores (1911–2001) | 14 February 1977 (1977-02-14) | 14 February 1979 (1979-02-14) | 2 years, 0 days | Costa e Silva (ARENA) |
| 26 | Antônio Neder (1911–2003) | 14 February 1979 (1979-02-14) | 16 February 1981 (1981-02-16) | 2 years, 2 days | Emílio Garrastazu Médici (ARENA) |
| 27 | Xavier de Albuquerque (1926–2015) | 16 February 1981 (1981-02-16) | 21 February 1983 (1983-02-21) | 2 years, 5 days | Emílio Garrastazu Médici (ARENA) |
| 28 | Cordeiro Guerra (1916–1993) | 21 February 1983 (1983-02-21) | 25 February 1985 (1985-02-25) | 2 years, 4 days | Ernesto Geisel (ARENA) |
| 29 | Moreira Alves (1933–2023) | 25 February 1985 (1985-02-25) | 2 March 1987 (1987-03-02) | 2 years, 5 days | Ernesto Geisel (ARENA) |
| 30 | Rafael Mayer (1919–2013) | 2 March 1987 (1987-03-02) | 14 March 1989 (1989-03-14) | 2 years, 12 days | Ernesto Geisel (ARENA) |
| 31 | Néri da Silveira (born 1932) | 14 March 1989 (1989-03-14) | 14 March 1991 (1991-03-14) | 2 years, 0 days | João Figueiredo (PDS) |
| 32 | Aldir Passarinho (1921–2014) | 14 March 1991 (1991-03-14) | 22 April 1991 (1991-04-22) | 39 days | João Figueiredo (PDS) |
| 33 | Sydney Sanches (born 1933) | 10 May 1991 (1991-05-10) | 13 May 1993 (1993-05-13) | 2 years, 3 days | João Figueiredo (PDS) |
| 34 | Octavio Gallotti (born 1930) | 13 May 1993 (1993-05-13) | 17 May 1995 (1995-05-17) | 2 years, 4 days | João Figueiredo (PDS) |
| 35 | Sepúlveda Pertence (1937–2023) | 17 May 1995 (1995-05-17) | 20 May 1997 (1997-05-20) | 1 year, 307 days | José Sarney (MDB) |
| 36 | Celso de Mello (born 1945) | 22 May 1997 (1997-05-22) | 27 May 1999 (1999-05-27) | 2 years, 5 days | José Sarney (MDB) |
| 37 | Carlos Velloso (born 1936) | 27 May 1999 (1999-05-27) | 31 May 2001 (2001-05-31) | 2 years, 4 days | Fernando Collor (PRN) |
| 38 | Marco Aurélio Mello (born 1946) | 31 May 2001 (2001-05-31) | 5 June 2003 (2003-06-05) | 2 years, 5 days | Fernando Collor (PRN) |
| 39 | Maurício Corrêa (1934–2012) | 5 June 2003 (2003-06-05) | 8 August 2004 (2004-08-08) | 1 year, 64 days | Itamar Franco (MDB) |
| 40 | Nelson Jobim (born 1946) | 20 August 2004 (2004-08-20) | 29 March 2006 (2006-03-29) | 1 year, 221 days | Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB) |
| 41 | Ellen Gracie (born 1948) | 27 April 2006 (2006-04-27) | 23 April 2008 (2008-04-23) | 1 year, 362 days | Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB) |
| 42 | Gilmar Mendes (born 1955) | 23 April 2008 (2008-04-23) | 23 April 2010 (2010-04-23) | 0 days | Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB) |
| 43 | Cezar Peluso (born 1942) | 23 April 2010 (2010-04-23) | 19 April 2012 (2012-04-19) | 1 year, 362 days | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) |
| 44 | Ayres Britto (born 1942) | 19 April 2012 (2012-04-19) | 17 November 2012 (2012-11-17) | 212 days | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) |
| 45 | Joaquim Barbosa (born 1954) | 22 November 2012 (2012-11-22) | 31 July 2014 (2014-07-31) | 1 year, 251 days | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) |
| 46 | Ricardo Lewandowski (born 1948) | 10 September 2014 (2014-09-10) | 12 September 2016 (2016-09-12) | 2 years, 2 days | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) |
| 47 | Cármen Lúcia (born 1954) | 12 September 2016 (2016-09-12) | 13 September 2018 (2018-09-13) | 2 years, 1 day | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) |
| 48 | Dias Toffoli (born 1967) | 13 September 2018 (2018-09-13) | 10 September 2020 (2020-09-10) | 1 year, 363 days | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) |
| 49 | Luiz Fux (born 1953) | 10 September 2020 (2020-09-10) | 12 September 2022 (2022-09-12) | 2 years, 2 days | Dilma Rousseff (PT) |
| 50 | Rosa Weber (born 1948) | 12 September 2022 (2022-09-12) | 28 September 2023 (2023-09-28) | 1 year, 16 days | Dilma Rousseff (PT) |
| 51 | Luís Roberto Barroso (born 1958) | 28 September 2023 (2023-09-28) | Incumbent | 1 year, 29 days | Dilma Rousseff (PT) |