Carlos Alberto Menezes Direito
Encyclopedia
Carlos Alberto Menezes Direito (September 8, 1942 – September 1st, 2009) was a Brazilian
judge
who sat on the Supreme Federal Court, the highest court of law in Brazil
, from his appointment in 2007 until his death in 2009.
Direito received his law degree
from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro in 1965. He served as a judge on the Superior Court of Justice
(STJ) until 2007.
Carlos Alberto Menezes Direito was nominated to the Supreme Federal Court, the highest court in Brazil, by President
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
in 2007. Direito replaced former Supreme Federal Court Justice Sepúlveda Pertence.
Direito was hospitalized in 2009 and underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his pancreas
at Hospital Samaritano in Rio de Janeiro. The surgery was reported to be successful. However, he was re-admitted to the Hospital Samaritano's intensive-care unit on Saturday, August 29, 2009, and placed on a ventilator.
Judge Carlos Alberto Menezes Direito died of pancreatic cancer at the Hospital Samaritana in Rio de Janeiro on September 1, 2009, at the age of 66. His death created a vacancy on the Supreme Federal Court. The Brazilian flags around the country stayed at half mast for three days following his death.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
who sat on the Supreme Federal Court, the highest court of law in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, from his appointment in 2007 until his death in 2009.
Direito received his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro in 1965. He served as a judge on the Superior Court of Justice
Superior Court of Justice (Brazil)
The Superior Court of Justice is the highest appellate court in Brazil for non-constitutional questions of federal law. The STJ also has original jurisdiction over some cases...
(STJ) until 2007.
Carlos Alberto Menezes Direito was nominated to the Supreme Federal Court, the highest court in Brazil, by President
President of Brazil
The president of Brazil is both the head of state and head of government of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces...
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , known popularly as Lula, served as the 35th President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010.A founding member of the Workers' Party , he ran for President three times unsuccessfully, first in the 1989 election. Lula achieved victory in the 2002 election, and was inaugurated as...
in 2007. Direito replaced former Supreme Federal Court Justice Sepúlveda Pertence.
Direito was hospitalized in 2009 and underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his pancreas
Pancreas
The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as a digestive organ, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that assist...
at Hospital Samaritano in Rio de Janeiro. The surgery was reported to be successful. However, he was re-admitted to the Hospital Samaritano's intensive-care unit on Saturday, August 29, 2009, and placed on a ventilator.
Judge Carlos Alberto Menezes Direito died of pancreatic cancer at the Hospital Samaritana in Rio de Janeiro on September 1, 2009, at the age of 66. His death created a vacancy on the Supreme Federal Court. The Brazilian flags around the country stayed at half mast for three days following his death.