The Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) announced on Tuesday (22) that it will request the revocation of the measure by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) that barred the entry of cell phones into the plenary of the First Chamber during the trial of the second part of the alleged coup attempt.
On Tuesday morning, upon arriving to attend the session, the lawyers in the case and the journalists who covered the trial were informed by the STF security guards that the devices were prohibited during the session and should be kept in sealed envelopes at the plenary entrance.
In a statement released to the press, the president of the OAB, Beto Simonetti, said that he received the measure with surprise and resignation and informed that he will request the revocation of the ban to the president of the First Chamber, Minister Cristiano Zanin, Lula’s former lawyer.
– The OAB recognizes the importance of security and order in trials. However, the use of audio and video recording devices in public sessions is protected by law and is a prerogative of the legal profession, and cannot be restricted without a clear and specific legal basis. Any excesses must be investigated with individualized accountability, without prejudice to institutional guarantees – declared the president.
The STF reported that the measure was taken after the prohibition of recording images inside the plenary during the trial of group 1, held last month, when former president Jair Bolsonaro and other defendants became defendants.
In addition, Felipe Martins, former international affairs advisor to Bolsonaro, one of the defendants in group 2, was prohibited by Minister Alexandre de Moraes from being filmed or photographed, including by third parties, during the trial or at any time during his travels, something never seen before and permitted by Brazilian law.
Journalists were also left without their work tools during the session of the second group of the STF; the Journalists Association has not yet commented.
