Flávio Dino faces criticism from OAB and President Lula

Supreme Court Justice Flávio Dino has drawn criticism from both the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva following his conduct during a recent session regarding an investigation into Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

During debates concerning the Banco Master case, Dino remarked that “there is no sale of a sentence without a lawyer buying it.” In response, the OAB issued a note stating that such comments represent a generalization of the profession and cast an “undue and generic suspicion” on lawyers, asserting that misconduct should be addressed individually rather than through collective responsibility.

Simultaneously, President Lula reportedly expressed dissatisfaction to allies, describing the session as a “show of horrors.” The President’s concerns centered on Dino’s tone and his decision to request a stay (pedido de vista), which suspended the judgment. Allies suggested that Dino’s behavior lacked political sensitivity regarding the potential impact of the judicial crisis on the country's political landscape.