Brazil's Supreme Court elects new chief justice to replace panel's first black justice

Published January 08, 2015

Brazil's Supreme Court has elected a new president to replace the body's first black justice, who announced his early retirement in June.

Nine of the court's 10 judges elected Ricardo Lewandowski as the new chief justice Wednesday to succeed Joaquim Barbosa. The choice was not a surprise because the Supreme Court's presidency always goes to the justice who has sat on the bench the longest.

Barbosa is the only black to ever serve on Brazil's top court. He presided over a high-profile corruption trial in 2012 that sent more than 20 people to jail in a congressional payoff scheme. The case made him a household name and he was frequently mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, but he has said he has no desire to run for elective office.

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