Barbosa ASSUMES PRESIDENCY OF STF

Minister Joaquim Barbosa (Rapporteur of Mensalão) assumes command of the mega event with STF
Minister Joaquim Barbosa takes on Thursday the Presidency of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) in a ceremony that seeks to do justice to who won fame in recent months.
About 2000 people were invited to the event, which will start at 15h (GMT) in the Supreme and will extend into the night in the main buffets Brasilia - Porto Vittoria, on Lake Paranoá. The party will be paid by associations of judges.
Journalists will accompany the cerminônia tenure on screens mounted on the outside of the court.
Among the guests are President Dilma Rousseff and President of the Chamber, Marco Maia, and celebrities like actors Lazaro Ramos and Tais Araujo, presenter Regina Case, musicians and Djavan MV Bill and former driver Nelson Piquet.
Also expected are representatives of the Brazilian black movement, as the dean of Zumbi dos Palmares, José Vicente, and attorney Humberto Adami, the Institute of Racial Advocacy.
About 100 invitations were sent out to former colleagues of the minister who teach at universities in the United States, France, Britain and Germany.
The grandeur of the event is attributed to an unprecedented event in the history of the Supreme: Barbosa will be the first black to assume the presidency of the organ. However, the minister's fame grew in recent months not only because of the color of their skin but by the judgment of his performance mensalão.
Barbosa is the rapporteur of the criminal action, regarded as a landmark in the history of the STF. In the process, the majority of judges followed the minister's position and upheld the complaint that, between 2003 and 2005, the government of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva diverted public funds to buy political support.
In the sessions, which began on August 2 and have no end date, 25 of the 37 defendants were found guilty, including former minister José Dirceu, sentenced to ten years and ten months in prison.
In the coming weeks, the agency should complete the definition of sentences of convicts.
Fame
During the trial, Barbosa gained sudden fame: as voted in Rio last month, he was approached by residents who wanted to be photographed at his side.
Since then, the minister graced magazine covers and has been quoted by foreign newspapers. For The New York Times, he is emerging as a sort of trial a "political hero".
Barbosa's popularity has led to speculation that he may throw in politics, unconfirmed hypothesis for it.
Appointed to the Supreme Court in 2003 by then President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Barbosa, 58, was raised to the command of the court in symbolic vote. The tradition of the Supreme recommends that the Presidency is exercised by the minister for more time in the house and has not yet occupied.
He will replace Justice Ayres Britto, who retired last week after completing 70 years, and will be in post for two years.
Strained relations
Celebrated in the streets, Barbosa has strained relations with some members of the Supreme. During the trial the monthly allowance, he traded barbs with two colleagues: the statutory process (and now vice president of STF), Ricardo Lewandowski, and Minister Marco Aurélio Mello.
Before trial, Barbosa has been involved in other discussions in and outside the Supreme object of derogatory comments from colleagues.
In 2007, the minister Carmen Lúcia was spotted by journalists to send a message to Lewandowski in quoting Barbosa for the appointment of the Rapporteur's process mensalão: "This will take a leap with social judgment," wrote Justice.
In 2009, during a squabble in court, then the president of the Supreme Court, Gilmar Mendes, Barbosa said he had "no position to give lessons to anyone." Barbosa said: "Your Excellency, when addressing me, not talking to his henchmen of Mato Grosso, Gilmar."
International career
Born in Paracatu (MG), Barbosa graduated in law at the University of Brasília and a master's and doctorate from the University of Paris-II.
He teaches graduate of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (Uerj) and author of two books on the right - one on the functioning of the Supreme, published in France, and another on the effect of affirmative action in the United States.
Before joining the court, the minister has held several positions in the federal administration, including that of Attorney (between 1984 and 2003), chief legal counsel of the Ministry of Health (1985-88) and official of the Ministry of Foreign Foreign Affairs (1976-1979), reaching even to serve at the embassy of Brazil in Finland.