Gilmar Mendes

Gilmar Mendes stands as a towering figure in Brazilian constitutional law, holding the distinction of being the longest-serving active justice in the history of the Supremo Tribunal Federal. His tenure since 2002 has allowed him to witness and influence every major political transition in the country, from the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff to the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro. His leadership as Chief Justice from 2008 to 2010 is remembered for navigating the court through a period of intense political polarization. Beyond the bench, his prolific scholarship has produced dozens of standard texts used in Brazilian law schools, cementing his legacy as both a practitioner and a theorist of the highest order.