Supreme Court Justice Who Extended Polling in Brazil Election Was Lula's Personal Lawyer

A report says Supreme Federal Tribunal Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered extended polling hours during Brazil’s presidential runoff after a request from Lula’s campaign, prompting concerns about the unusual decision and its effects on election procedures.

• Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered polling hours extended by two hours on Sunday during the presidential runoff; the request came from Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign, citing bus shortages and transportation problems in northeastern Brazil.· 1 source
• Zanin had served as Lula’s personal lawyer during Lula’s corruption trial, and Lula nominated him to the Supreme Federal Tribunal in June 2023; Zanin was sworn in that August.· 1 source
• Superior Electoral Tribunal president Kassio Nunes Marques said the order was unconventional and caused procedural difficulties, including changes to vote-counting and poll-worker security arrangements; he said the count proceeded without compromising the process.· 1 source