Kassio Nunes Marques will serve as the rapporteur for Jair Bolsonaro's request to annul his criminal conviction [1].
The appointment is significant because it places the fate of the former president's legal standing in the hands of a single justice within the Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF). Bolsonaro is currently facing a sentence of 27 years and three months in prison [1].
The selection occurred Monday, May 11, 2026, during a lottery process for the court's second chamber in Brasília [2, 6]. The defense for the former president has filed a request for criminal review, arguing that the original conviction should be overturned due to alleged irregularities [1, 4].
Bolsonaro's legal team further contends that the case should not be handled by a small chamber of the court. They said the matter warrants a hearing by the full plenary of the STF, the highest judicial body in Brazil [1, 4].
As the rapporteur, Nunes Marques is responsible for reviewing the evidence and drafting the initial opinion that will guide the court's decision. The outcome of this review will determine whether the conviction stands or if the legal process must be restarted [3, 5].
The current sentence of 27 years and three months [1] stems from charges related to an alleged coup attempt. The defense's strategy focuses on procedural errors to secure a total annulment of the verdict [1].
“Bolsonaro is currently facing a sentence of 27 years and three months in prison”
This procedural development shifts the focus of Bolsonaro's legal battle to the specific judicial philosophy of Justice Nunes Marques. By seeking a review in the full plenary rather than a smaller chamber, the defense is attempting to broaden the judicial panel, which could potentially increase the likelihood of a divided court and a successful challenge to the original sentence.
