Lula's Allies Propose Rio Interim Governor Ricardo Couto for Supreme Court Vacancy

Allies of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have proposed the name of Ricardo Couto, the interim governor of Rio de Janeiro, to fill a vacancy on Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF). According to O Globo, the proposal is intended as a gesture to ease a crisis of confidence in the court that followed the disclosure of private messages between Justice Alexandre de Moraes and businessman Daniel Vorcaro.

The STF seat has been vacant since October 2025, when Justice Luís Roberto Barroso announced an early retirement. Lula initially nominated Jorge Messias, then-chief of the federal government's legal office (Advocacia-Geral da União), but the Senate rejected the appointment in April 2026, marking a historic defeat for the president.

Ricardo Couto serves as president of the Rio de Janeiro State Court of Justice (TJ-RJ). Earlier in 2026 his name had been mentioned as a possible candidate for a vacancy on the Superior Tribunal of Justice (STJ). Lula has publicly praised Couto's approach to combating illegal groups in Rio and, in a June 2026 event, referred to him as an "interventor" in the state's security efforts.

Supporters of the Couto proposal say it would demonstrate institutional restraint by picking a nominee outside Lula's closest political circle, while still acknowledging Couto's perceived alignment with anti-corruption efforts and his rapport with Justice Minister Wellington César Lima e Silva. They argue that such a move could help repair the court's image amid public skepticism.

Other Lula allies note that the president has repeatedly expressed, in both private conversations and public remarks, a preference to renominate Messias for the STF seat. The earlier rejection was described as orchestrated by Senate President Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP) with the backing of several Supreme Court justices, including Moraes.

If Lula were re-elected, future STF vacancies could arise in 2028 (Luiz Fux), 2029 (Cármem Lúcia) and 2030 (Gilmar Mendes). For now, the Couto suggestion remains under discussion within the president's inner circle, with no definitive decision reported.