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Brazil Senate Rejects Lula’s SC Nominee, Court Left Ten

4/30/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Brazil’s Senate rejected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s Supreme Court nominee Jorge Messias, the first denial in over 130 years.
The secret vote was 34-42, below the 41 votes needed, for Messias, the solicitor-general since 2023 and Lula’s close legal advisor who had cleared a Senate commission.
The rejection leaves the Supreme Court with ten justices after Justice Luís Roberto Barroso’s November resignation.

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Story summary

Brazil’s Senate rejected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s Supreme Court nominee Jorge Messias, the first denial in over 130 years.
The secret vote was 34-42, below the 41 votes needed, for Messias, the solicitor-general since 2023 and Lula’s close legal advisor who had cleared a Senate commission.
The rejection leaves the Supreme Court with ten justices after Justice Luís Roberto Barroso’s November resignation.