Barroso signals the Supreme Court's behavior regarding the impeachment of governors

Justice Luís Roberto Barroso suspended the injunction that had halted the impeachment proceedings against Santa Catarina Governor Carlos Moisés. The decision was interpreted as an important signal of the Court's stance regarding impeachment proceedings underway in several Brazilian states, including that of Wilson Witzel in the Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly.

According to a lawyer with a strong reputation at the Supreme Court, the justices generally tend not to interfere in a process that is primarily within the legislative branch. The exception would be a case where the case does not strictly comply with Federal Law 1079, which regulates impeachment. Otherwise, there is little chance of judicial interference in the proceedings.

The injunction suspending the impeachment proceedings had been obtained by the governor's defense team at the Santa Catarina Court of Justice, arguing that the proceedings did not respect the right to a full defense.