Lula faces a vacancy on Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) following Luís Roberto Barroso’s retirement in late 2025, after the Senate rejected his earlier nominee Jorge Messias in April 2026. Recent reporting highlights active negotiations to name former Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco, backed by current Senate President Davi Alcolumbre, who helped advance a key labor bill favored by the government. With the presidential runoff against Flávio Bolsonaro set for October 25, Lula’s team is weighing an announcement before year-end—potentially even after a possible defeat—to secure Senate confirmation (requiring 41 votes) and limit the incoming administration’s influence over the court’s composition. Discussions also touch on broader judicial reform proposals involving civil society input and term limits, though the immediate focus remains filling the open seat amid shifting congressional dynamics.