Ellen Gracie

Who is Ellen Gracie?

Ellen Gracie Northfleet is a Brazilian judge of American descent. She is the first woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Brazil and the Court's first female president.

On August 8, 2011 she retired from the Court, 7 years before the full extension a mandate that would go until 70 years old.

There was no formal announcement of her decision to retire and no formal ceremony at her departure.

After her departure the Brazilian Association of Federal Judges published a public statement requesting that a representative of the Federal Magistrature be appointed for her position. Ellen Gracie was not a career magistrate since she did not write the exams to become a Federal Judge, as is the case for members of the Federal Magistrature. She was nominated for the position by then Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso.