When Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux steps away from deliberating Brazil’s most consequential legal cases, he heads to the jiu-jitsu mats. The 72-year-old minister has earned his coral (red and white) belt, representing 8th degree mastery, a rank above black belt.
“I’ve always practiced sports throughout my life, my hobby is jiu-jitsu, so I rest by spending energy,”
Fux said in an interview with Grupo Otimista in late August. The Rio de Janeiro native uses the martial art as his main method of decompression between sessions at Brazil’s highest court.
Fux is also an avid follower of UFC events, drawn to competitions that showcase the techniques he has spent decades perfecting.
“Sometimes, watching a good series and notably these UFC events, events that have a connection with martial arts,”
he explained.
His routine includes another unconventional choice – instead of coffee or tea, Fux opts for powdered guaraná between court sessions. This combination of martial arts discipline and Brazilian cultural preference reflects his distinctive personality within the Supreme Court.
Born to Romanian immigrants who fled German persecution during World War II, Fux identifies as “carioca da gema” – a true Rio native. His path to the Supreme Court began with a law degree from Rio de Janeiro State University, followed by work as a Shell attorney, prosecutor, and judge before becoming an appeals court justice in 1997.
President Fernando Henrique Cardoso appointed him to the Superior Court of Justice in 2001, and a decade later President Dilma Rousseff elevated him to the Supreme Court. His judicial philosophy has evolved from one of the court’s more rigid positions to what many now see as a “voice of balance.”
This shift became clear in recent high-profile cases. While Justice Alexandre de Moraes proposed a 14-year prison sentence for Débora dos Santos accused of vandalizing a Justice statue with lipstick during the January 8, 2023 incidents, Fux advocated for a penalty of one year and six months.
During the Bolsonaro trial, Fux was the sole justice to oppose precautionary measures on the former president, including electronic monitoring. This positioning has drawn attention from Bolsonaro’s allies who hope Fux might diverge from the court’s prevailing sentiment.
It’s worth noting that Bolsonaro holds a ‘honorary’ black belt in BJJ, given to him by the members of the Gracie family.
Fux prefers in-person deliberations for complex matters and virtual sessions for routine issues, reflecting his belief in direct engagement with consequential cases. His disciplined approach to martial arts and jurisprudence suggests that his decisions are informed by methodical consideration.
Whether his jiu-jitsu training influences judicial outcomes is unclear, but the mental discipline required to achieve red and white belt status parallels the intellectual rigor demanded by Brazil’s most challenging legal questions.
