Attorney Rodrigo Mudrovitsch was elected this Friday (12) to occupy a seat among the judges of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Appointed by President Jair Bolsonaro in December 2020, Mudrovitsch received 19 of the 24 possible votes among seven candidates vying for four seats.
Master in constitutional law from the University of BrasÃlia (UnB) and doctor in state law from USP, Mudrovitsch is expected to serve a six-year term in court, based in San José, Costa Rica.
In the 42 years of operation of the court, Brazil has had only two magistrates and, since 2018, when judge Roberto Caldas resigned after being accused of domestic violence, he has not had a representative.
In recent years, the court has expanded its role to consider social issues as part of the scope of human rights. Decisions have to be followed by governments that accept its jurisdiction, in the case of Brazil. Thus, Mudrovitsch’s candidacy was viewed with some level of skepticism by jurists, analysts and diplomats, who saw Brazil’s interest in the court as a possible way to protect Bolsonaro if his role in fighting the pandemic were brought to the body.
In addition, other court applicants were older —Mudrovitsch is 36 years old— and had longer résumés. For supporters of his candidacy, however, his youth was pointed out as an advantage, as it was proof of his brilliance and the possibility of bringing renewal to the court.
For Itamaraty, the election of Bolsonaro’s nominee demonstrates “the recognition of the role of Brazilian foreign policy in the inter-American human rights system”. In a statement, the ministry said that the Brazilian government, with the victory, reaffirms the importance of the court in protecting human rights.
Well-connected, the lawyer received the support of several entities in the legal area, the OAB and the Senate. Among his credentials is being executive secretary of a commission of jurists created to prepare a draft law that systematizes the norms of constitutional process.
In the Federal Supreme Court (STF), Mudrovitsch defended those accused of Car Wash and human rights issues. He is also close to minister Gilmar Mendes, who is usually quite influential in choosing key posts in the legal world. He was guided by him in his master’s degree and teaches at the IDP (Institute of Public Law), founded by Gilmar.
X-RAY
Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Creation: 1948
Effective start: 1979
Member countries: Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela *
Number of judges: 7
Duration of term: 6 years, with one reappointment allowed
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