Supreme Federal Court President Edson Fachin has rejected a request by the defense of Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, a presidential candidate, to take Justice Flávio Dino off cases involving Bolsonaro, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the 2026 election.¹

The defense sought to have the matters reassigned to another justice, arguing that Dino’s purported proximity to Lula could affect his neutrality. The cases cited include disputes over parliamentary amendments, petitions filed by Lula’s Workers’ Party and financing for the film Dark Horse.²

Bolsonaro’s lawyers framed their request as an institutional safeguard rather than an attempt to halt inquiries. “The suspension does not harm the investigation,” they said, adding that any investigations should continue “before the impartial and competent court.”¹ They also argued that, so close to a presidential election, cases involving “the President, the election and the President’s main opponent” should not remain with Dino.¹

Fachin, however, found that the arguments did not warrant Dino’s removal, according to reporting on the decision.² The full ruling has not been released because the case is under judicial secrecy, leaving the court’s detailed reasoning unavailable.

Both accounts agree on the central facts: the defense challenged Dino’s continued role and requested redistribution, while Fachin denied the request. Their emphasis differs. The defense presents reassignment as necessary to protect the court’s appearance of impartiality; the decision, as reported, leaves the existing rapporteur in place without publicly detailing why the claimed conflict was insufficient.