Carlos Alberto Menezes Direito | |
---|---|
Supreme Federal Court Justice | |
In office September 5, 2007 – September 1, 2009 | |
Appointed by | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva[1] |
Preceded by | Sepúlveda Pertence |
Succeeded by | Dias Toffoli |
Personal details | |
Born | Belém, Brazil | September 8, 1942
Died | September 1, 2009 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | (aged 66)
Spouse | Wanda Vianna Direito |
Children | Luciana Maria, Carlos Alberto and Carlos Gustavo |
Carlos Alberto Menezes Direito (September 8, 1942 – September 1, 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.[2]
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.[2]
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.[2] Direito replaced former Supreme Federal Court Justice Sepúlveda Pertence.[2]
Direito was hospitalized in 2009 and underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his pancreas at Hospital Samaritano in Rio de Janeiro.[2] The surgery was reported to be successful.[2] However, he was re-admitted to the Hospital Samaritano's intensive-care unit on Saturday, August 29, 2009, and placed on a ventilator.[2]
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.[2][3] 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.