Cristiano Zanin Explained

Honorific-Prefix:His Excellency
Cristiano Zanin
Office:Justice of the Supreme Federal Court
Term Start:3 August 2023
Appointer:Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Predecessor:Ricardo Lewandowski
Birth Date:15 November 1975
Birth Place:Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
Alma Mater:Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (LL.B.)
Children:3
Occupation:Attorney, professor

Cristiano Zanin Martins (born 15 November 1975) is a Brazilian attorney and professor who serves as justice of the Supreme Federal Court.[1] He gained notoriety as personal attorney of president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in lawsuits related to Operation Car Wash.

On 1 June 2023, Zanin was appointed by president Lula da Silva as Justice of the Supreme Federal Court, replacing retired Justice Ricardo Lewandowski.[2] [3] His nomination was approved by the Federal Senate in a voting of 58–18 on 21 June 2023.[4] [5]

Early life and academics

The son of Maria Roseli and Nelson Martins, Cristiano Zanin was born in Piracicaba into a middle-class family and moved to São Paulo in 1994 to study at the Law School of the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP), graduating in 1999.[6] He concluded a specialization in civil procedure at the same university.[7]

He taught civil law at the Autonomous School of Law (FADISP) in São Paulo.[8]

Zanin is one of the authors of the book "Lawfare: uma introdução", which talks about "the strategic use of Law for political, geopolitical, military and commercial objectives" and founded in 2018 the Lawfare Institute for the production of content about the subject and analysis on real cases.[9]

Career

Attorneyship

Zanin began his attorneyship in 2000 as an attorney at the office of Arruda Alvim, where he was an intern during college. In 2004, he became partner of Teixeira Martins Attorneys-at-law.[10] [11] In 2022, he opened his own attorney office, in a partnership with his wife Valeska Martins, daughter of his former partner Roberto Teixeira.[12]

He had worked in business lawsuits and judicial recoveries, dedicating in famous cases such as Varig judicial recovery, Transbrasil bankruptcy and the lenience agreement review of J&F Investimentos.[13] In the end of January 2023, Zanin was hired by Lojas Americanas to work in a lawsuit against BTG Pactual.[14]

Zanin is also member of the Institute of Brazilian Attorneys (IAB), of the São Paulo Attorneys Association (AASP) and the International Bar Association (IAB).

Lula's attorney

Zanin became the attorney of Lula's family in 2013[15] [16] and gained notoriety after becoming his defense attorney in a joint work with criminal attorneys José Roberto Batochio and Luiz Felipe Mallmann de Magalhães[17] [18] in lawsuits related to investigations of Operation Car Wash.[19] [20]

In September 2020, in a subphase of Operation Car Wash, judge Marcelo Bretas ordered a search and seizure in houses of attorneys whose offices provided services for Sistema S.[21] [22] Among the offices investigated were Zanin's and the office of Frederick Wassef, former attorney of Jair Bolsonaro.[23] Zanin stated that the complaint was a retaliation to his work as defense attorney of president Lula and added that "this is the goal of Car Wash. Remove me or reduce my time in the defense of president Lula and in other cases I work in. But this is not going to happen."[15] Zanin also pointed out the fact that Bretas had sympathy for president Bolsonaro.[24] The Order of Attorneys of Brazil (OAB) saw the operation as "a clear inititiave of criminalization of Brazilian attorneyship".[25] The complaint was later archived.[26]

Zanin sustained the thesis of suspicion of the judge Sergio Moro, stating that Operation Car Wash violated the rules of due process in cases involving Lula, once the judge assisted the prosecution.[27]

In 2021, a habeas corpus request filed in the Supreme Federal Court by Lula's attorneys resulted in the repeal of Lula's convictions related to Operation Car Wash, as the court acknowledged the partiality of Sergio Moro, declaring him suspect and repealing his rulings.[28] Consequently, the political rights of Lula were restored, allowing his candidacy in the 2022 elections, which he was elected President of Brazil for the third time.[29]

Politics

Zanin participated in the coordination of the presidential campaign of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the 2022 elections.[26]

In November 2022, he was designated to compose a technical group on Justice and Public Security in the presidential transition cabinet. Zanin was responsible for the report of International Judiciary Cooperation and National Strategy of Fight against Corruption and Money Laundering (ENCCLA).

Threats in airport

On 11 January 2023, during the aftermath of severe and violent anti-democratic events against the Three Powers building in Brasília perpetrated by terrorists who supported former president Jair Bolsonaro, Zanin was approached by Bolsonaro supporters in the restroom of the Brasília International Airport, where, in a violent and hostile way, he was filmed while he was insulted and threatened of aggression.[30] In the video, the offenders affirmed that he should be assaulted for being part of Lula's defense.[31] Zanin remained calm and regretted what happened, as well as he hoped the persons responsible for the attack would be punished.[32] The man responsible for the recording, a 29-year-old entrepreneur,[26] was identified and indicted for threatening, injury and crime incitement.[33]

Supreme Federal Court

After the election of Lula for president, Zanin was considered for Justice of the Supreme Federal Court.[34] [35] [36]

For the fact he had acted as personal attorney of the president, his possible nomination was heavily criticized, both from the opposition and from personal allies and supporters of Lula administration.[37] [38] [39]

On the other hand, Zanin received support of attorneys,[40] the President of the Senate Rodrigo Pacheco and from justices of the Supreme Court.[41] Justice Luís Roberto Barroso affirmed that he couldn't see in an eventual nomination "any ethical, nor moral conflict, nor violation of impersonality".[42] Justice Cármen Lúcia evaluated that Zanin meets the constitutional requirements of remarkable legal knowledge and unblemished reputation.[43] Justice Gilmar Mendes stated: "I don't see any obstacle for Zanin's nomination, which I consider a good attorney a many times misunderstood".[44]

Zanin was officially nominated on 1 June 2023[45] for the vacant position of retired justice Ricardo Lewandowski.[46] [47]

On 21 June 2023, Zanin had a public hearing in the Federal Senate, with his nomination approved on the same day at the Constitution and Justice Committee in a voting of 21–5 and by the floor in a voting of 58–18.[48]

Personal life

Zanin is a Roman Catholic.[49] He has been married since 2004 to attorney Valeska Teixeira Zanin Martins, with whom he had three children.[50] [51]

He is a fan of São Paulo Futebol Clube.[52]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zanin toma posse no cargo de ministro do STF nesta quinta-feira. Agência Brasil. pt-br. André. Richter. 3 August 2023. 3 August 2023.
  2. Web site: Lula indica Cristiano Zanin para vaga no Supremo Tribunal Federal. Gov.br. pt-br. 1 June 2023. 21 June 2023.
  3. Web site: Lula indica advogado Cristiano Zanin para vaga de ministro do Supremo. Consultor Jurídico. pt-br. Tiago. Angelo. 1 June 2023. 21 June 2023.
  4. Web site: Por 58 votos a 18, Senado aprova indicação de Zanin para o STF. Metrópoles. Rebeca. Borges. Sandy. Mendes. pt-br. 21 June 2023. 21 June 2023.
  5. Web site: Plenário do Senado aprova Cristiano Zanin para vaga no Supremo Tribunal Federal. Terra. pt-br. 21 June 2023. 21 June 2023.
  6. Web site: Cristiano Zanin, um advogado dos diabos. Veja. pt-br. Ullisses. Campbell. 23 September 2017. 21 June 2023.
  7. Web site: "Modelo de processo baseado em delações impede o verdadeiro combate à corrupção". Consultor Jurídico. pt-br. Pedro. Canário. Maurício. Cardoso. Rafa. Santos. Emerson. Voltare. 15 December 2019. 21 June 2023.
  8. Web site: Teixeira Martins Advogados altera nomenclatura em comemoração aos seus 50 anos. Análise Editorial. pt-br. 31 August 2020. 21 June 2023.
  9. Web site: Lawfare é uam realidade mundial e sem ideologias. Consultor Jurídico. pt-br. Cristiano. Zanin Martins. Valeska. Teixeira Zanin Martins. 1 January 2020. 21 June 2023.
  10. Web site: União deve indenizar advogado de Lula por grampo em escritório, decide TRF-3. Consultor Jurídico. pt-br. 27 April 2022. 21 June 2023.
  11. Web site: OAB pede que Supremo invalide grampos de advogado de Lula e seu escritório. Consultor Jurídico. pt-br. Sérgio. Rodas. 8 April 2016. 21 June 2023.
  12. Web site: Advogado de Lula, Zanin funda novo escritório e passa a atuar para J&F contra Lava-Jato. O Globo. pt-br. Bela. Megale. 12 August 2022. 21 June 2023. subscription.
  13. Web site: Dedicado, discreto e alérgico a lula: conheça Cristiano Zanin, advogado do presidente indicado ao STF. Terra. pt-br. Rayssa. Motta. 1 June 2023. 21 June 2023.
  14. Web site: Lojas Americanas contrata Cristiano Zanin, advogado de Lula, para atuar em processo contra BTG. Estadão. pt-br. Altamiro. Junior. Talita. Nascimento. 31 January 2023. 21 June 2023. subscription.
  15. Web site: Lava Jato quer tirar meu foco da defesa de Lula, diz Cristiano Zanin após ser alvo de operação. Folha de S. Paulo. pt-br. Wálter. Nunes. Felipe. Bächtold. 10 September 2020. 21 June 2023. subscription.
  16. Web site: Conheça o advogado de Lula campeão de brigas contra Moro. Gazeta do Povo. pt-br. Kelli. Kadanus. 4 July 2017. 21 June 2023.
  17. Web site: Advogados de petista consideram prisão 'exagerada'. Estadão. pt-br. Ricardo. Galhardo. 24 January 2018. 21 June 2023. subscription.
  18. Web site: Estadão dá um jeito de falar de Lula até quando a pauta é a prisão do amigo de Temer. Jornal GGN. pt-br. Cintia. Alves. 30 March 2018. 21 June 2023.
  19. Web site: Defesa de Lula entra com pedido de soltura após decisão do STF. Exame. pt-br. Clara. Cerioni. 8 November 2019. 21 June 2023.
  20. Web site: Não há remédio eficaz no Brasil para cessar violações a Direitos Humanos, diz Cristiano Zanin, advogado de Lula. Jota. pt-br. Guilherme. Pimenta. 7 August 2016. 21 June 2023.
  21. Web site: Operação E$squema S: veja quem são os alvos da Lava Jato no Rio. Metrópoles. pt-br. Luciana. Lima. 9 September 2020. 21 June 2023.
  22. Web site: Cristiano Zanin diz que denúncia e buscas da Lava jato são 'atentado à advocacia'. Poder360. pt-br. 9 September 2020. 21 June 2023.
  23. Web site: Wassef e Zanin pegos no pulo. Estadão. pt-br. José. Nêumanne Pinto. 10 September 2020. 21 June 2023. subscription.
  24. Web site: Advogados ded Lula veem retaliação da Lava-Jato; Zanin aponta elo de juiz com Bolsonaro. Valor Econômico. pt-br. Cristiane. Agostine. Carolina. Freitas. 9 September 2020. 21 June 2023. subscription.
  25. Web site: OAB vê 'clara tentativa de criminalizalão da advocacia' em fase da Lava Jato que fez buscas contra advogados. G1. pt-br. 9 September 2020. 21 June 2023.
  26. Web site: Advogado das Americanas foi atacado em escola dos filhos e defendeu Lula. UOL Economia. pt-br. Laís. Seguin. 1 February 2023. 21 June 2023.
  27. Web site: Lava Jato teve "troféu" ilegítimo e não quer devolver, diz advogado de Lula. UOL Notícias. pt-br. Vinicius. Konchinski. 3 November 2019. 21 June 2023.
  28. Web site: Cristiano Zanin Martins, o advogado. Migalhas. pt-br. 10 March 2021. 21 June 2023.
  29. Web site: Lula é eleito presidente da República pela terceira vez. Senado Notícias. pt-br. 30 October 2022. 21 June 2023.
  30. Web site: Advogado de Lula é ameaçado e agredido verbalmente no aeroporto de Brasília; veja o vídeo. O Globo. pt-br. Bela. Megale. 11 January 2023. 21 June 2023.
  31. Web site: Fascistas agridem Zanin em aeroporto e serão processados e investigados pelo Conselho Federal da OAB (vídeo). Brasil 247. pt-br. 11 January 2023. 21 June 2023.
  32. Web site: Advogado de Lula é ameaçado no Aeroporto de Brasília; assista ao vídeo. CNN Brasil. pt-br. Thaís. Arbex. 11 January 2023. 21 June 2023.
  33. Web site: Homem que ofendeu advogado de Lula é indiciado por ameaça, injúria e incitação. CNN Brasil. pt-br. Thais. Arbex. 25 January 2023. 21 June 2023.
  34. Web site: Com duas novas indicações no STF, Lula estuda ministros mais alinhados. UOL Notícias. pt-br. Paulo Roberto. Netto. Letícia. Casado. 31 October 2022. 21 June 2023.
  35. Web site: Os nomes que Lula tem na manga para indicar para o STF. Isto É. pt-br. 4 November 2022. 21 June 2023.
  36. Web site: Lula e equipe técnica discutem nomes para indicações ao STF, STJ e TSE. Correio Braziliense. pt-br. Luana. Patriolino. 14 November 2022. 21 June 2023.
  37. Web site: Zanin enfrenta 'corredor polonês' por vaga ao STF, mas continua favorito. UOL Notícias. pt-br. Paulo Roberto. Netto. 19 April 2023. 21 June 2023.
  38. Web site: Lula se irrita com ataques a Zanin e teme que disputa ao STF atinja governo. UOL Notícias. pt-br. Paulo Roberto. Netto. Lucas. Borges Teixeira. 18 April 2023. 21 June 2023.
  39. Web site: Gregorio Duvivier sobre críticas a Zanin no STF: Fui chamado de lavajatista. Splash UOL. pt-br. 27 April 2023. 21 June 2023.
  40. Web site: Em meio a 'fogo amigo', advogados assinam carta em solidariedade a Zanin. Veja. pt-br. 23 March 2023. 21 June 2023.
  41. Web site: Favoritismo de Zanin ao STF avança com respaldo de Lira, Pacheco e ministros da corte. Folha de S. Paulo. pt-br. Matheus. Teixeira. 10 May 2023. 21 June 2023. subscription.
  42. Web site: Barroso: Não vejo conflito ético ou moral se Zanin for escolhido para o STF. UOL Notícias. pt-br. 18 April 2023. 21 June 2023.
  43. Web site: Cármen Lúcia sobre Zanin: 'Tem e já demonstrou notório saber jurídico'. Estado de Minas. pt-br. 6 March 2023. 21 June 2023.
  44. Web site: Lula ignora pressões e está decidido a indicar Zanin para o Supremo Tribunal Federal. Estadão. pt-br. Vera. Rosa. Andreza. Matais. 8 May 2023. 21 June 2023.
  45. Web site: Lula confirma indicação de seu advogado Cristiano Zanin para vaga no STF. UOL Notícias. pt-br. Paulo Roberto. Netto. 1 June 2023.
  46. Web site: Conheça Cristiano Zanin, advogado que Lula indicará para o STF. Correio Braziliense. pt-br. Camilla. Germano. 1 June 2023. 21 June 2023.
  47. Web site: Lula afirma que Zanin será grande ministro no STF. Agência Brasil. pt-br. Andreia. Verdélio. 1 June 2023. 21 June 2023.
  48. Web site: Zanin é aprovado para o STF em comissão; votação vai para o plenário. UOL Notícias. pt-br. Paulo Roberto. Netto. Giovanna. Galvani. Mariana. Durães. Lola. Ferreira. Leonardo. Martins. Carolina. Nogueira. 21 June 2023. 21 June 2023.
  49. Web site: Zanin se reúne com evangélicos, e Malafaia o chama de 'cara de família'. Folha de S. Paulo. pt-br. Anna Virginia. Balloussier. 7 June 2023. 21 June 2023. subscription.
  50. Web site: Quem é Cristiano Zanin? Veja perfil de Cristiano Zanin, nome de Lula para a vaga no STF deixada por Lewandowski. Jornal do Comércio. pt-br. Rodrigo. Fernandes. 1 June 2023. 21 June 2023.
  51. Web site: Babás vão a justiça contra Zanin e esposa sob alegação de jornada abusiva e dano moral. Estado de Minas. pt-br. Catia. Seabra. 16 April 2023.
  52. Web site: Cristiano Zanin Martins - Entrevista. MBM Escritório de Ideias. pt-br. Cristiane. Sanches. May 2017. 21 June 2023.