Brazilian president’s former lawyer is taking seat as Supreme Court justice

By DIANE JEANTET
Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The former personal lawyer of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is joining the ranks of the country’s Supreme Court amid criticism that their relationship poses a conflict of interest. Cristiano Zanin will formally become a high court justice Thursday, filling the seat vacated by the April retirement of Justice Ricardo Lewandowski. Lula appointed Zanin in June, drawing accusations from the opposition that he is jeopardizing the impartiality of the nation’s highest court by placing a friend as one of its justices. Lula denies that the two are friends. Zanin helped Lula overturn a graft conviction stemming from Brazil’s sprawling “Car Wash” corruption investigation. That allowed Lula to get out of jail in time to run successfully for his third presidential term.