Judge Loraci Flores de Lima resigns from Lava Jato cases

Federal Judge Loraci Flores de Lima has resigned from his role as rapporteur for cases related to the former Operation Lava Jato at the Regional Federal Court of the 4th Region (TRF-4). The decision follows a 60-day suspension imposed by the National Council of Justice (CNJ).

The CNJ unanimously ruled that both Judge Loraci and colleague Carlos Eduardo Thompson Flores disobeyed an express order from Supreme Federal Court Justice Dias Toffoli to suspend criminal proceedings linked to the investigation. The suspension was issued due to findings that the judges ignored judicial determinations regarding the validity of evidence and procedural acts within the Lava Jato cases.

Judge Loraci cited "incompatibility" to justify his withdrawal from the cases, a move aligned with Article 122 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which requires judges to recuse themselves in instances of impediment or incompatibility to avoid legal challenges from parties involved.