Ellen Gracie Northfleet

Her Excellency Ellen Gracie Northfleet
Ellen Gracie during a session of STF in 2006
Justice of the Supreme Federal Court
In office December 14, 2000[1] – August 8, 2011
Appointed by	Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Preceded by	Octavio Gallotti[1]
Succeeded by	Rosa Weber[2]
52nd President of the Supreme Federal Court
In office March 30, 2006 – April 24, 2008
Vice President	Gilmar Mendes
Preceded by	Nelson Jobim
Succeeded by	Gilmar Mendes
Personal details
Born	(1948-02-16) February 16, 1948 (age 76) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Alma mater	Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Other judicial positions 2008–2011: Substitute Justice, Superior Electoral Court 2006–2008: President, National Justice Council 2004–2006: Vice President, National Justice Council 2004–2006: Vice President, Supreme Federal Court 2003–2005: Vice President, Superior Electoral Court 2001–2005: Effective Justice, Superior Electoral Court 2000–2001: Substitute Justice, Superior Electoral Court

Ellen Gracie Northfleet (Portuguese:

president.

On August 8, 2011, she retired from the Court, 7 years before the full extension that would go until 70 years old.[4]

There was no formal announcement of her decision to retire and no formal ceremony at her departure.^[5][6][7]

After her departure the Brazilian Association of Federal Judges published a public statement requesting that a representative of the Federal Magistrature be appointed for her position. Ellen Gracie was not a career magistrate since she did not write the exams to become a Federal Judge, as is the case for members of the Federal Magistrature. She was nominated for the position by then Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso.^[8]

Education

She earned her

project.

Her public career began in 1971, clerking for the

Federal, where she remained in the capacity of Federal Prosecutor until 1989, when she first joined the Judiciary, becoming a judge in the Regional Federal Court of the 4th Region, an appeal Court.

Northfleet was appointed to the Supreme Federal Court on November 23, 2000, by then president of Brazil Fernando Henrique Cardoso.^[9] She was the first woman to be named to the court. On March 15, 2006, after her appointment by the president, she was confirmed to head this court by a vote of its justices.^[10] She replaced Nelson Jobim, who retired on March 30, 2006, presumably to run for office. She was 58 years of age at the time she was appointed by Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

In May 2006, she came very close to becoming the first acting female president, when

, who was not up for re-election and preceded her in the order of succession, stayed behind.

World Justice Project

Northfleet is on the board of directors of the

References

External links

• Roles of Women: Norms and Culture — Ellen Gracie Northfleet,

Judge, Tribunal Regional Federal da 4a Regiao, Porto Alegre, Brazil. (Information from the US Library of Congress.)

• Brazil's First Female Chief Justice to Speak at US Law Schools Annual Meeting, 2 January 2008.

Legal offices
Preceded by Octavio Gallotti	Justice of the Supreme Federal Court 2000–2011	Succeeded by Rosa Weber