Judge’s Color Makes One Statement, Style Another

Dec. 7 (Bloomberg) -- In 2003, President Luiz Inacio Lulada Silva appointed Joaquim Barbosa to Brazil’s Supreme Court,making him the first black Brazilian to serve on the court. Lastweek, Barbosa accepted the position of president of the court,or chief justice. In Brazil, where Supreme Court sessions aretelevised, Barbosa has become a national celebrity and a symbolof Brazil’s progress toward racial equality.

In the past year, he has presided over one of the biggestand most closely watched corruption trials in Brazilian history,known as Mensalao, a Portuguese term for “big monthly payment.”The trial has 38 defendants, most of whom now stand convicted ofcrimes relating to a scheme that paid monthly bribes topoliticians who voted for measures favored by the ruling WorkersParty. Last month, the day after his inauguration, Barbosa wasinterviewed by journalist Ellis Cose. Below are excerpts of thatinterview: