Brazilian court: new justice minister can resume office

The regional federal court of Brasilia on Wednesday struck down a precautionary measure that prevented embattled President Dilma Rousseff's newly appointed justice minister from serving.

The decision paves the way for former prosecutor Eugenio Aragao to retake the post he took up on March 17, after Rousseff's prior pick, Wellington Cesar Lima, was blocked by Brazil's Supreme Court.

In presenting the decision, the president of the regional court, Candido Ribeiro, said the cabinet post, which oversees national security affairs, was too sensitive to be left vacant.

According to the government, Aragao's case shows members of the judicial sector aligned with Rousseff's political opponents are working to stymie her administration.

As the National Attorney General's Office (AGU) pointed out, "the precautionary measure...from one day to the next, leaves without command a ministry that is directly responsible for public security, constitutional guarantees (and) penal administration, among other extremely important issues," said Ribeiro.

Blocking Aragao from taking office "at this time of heightened political uncertainty has resulted in grave injury to public order and security," said Ribeiro.

"The precautionary measure, to my understanding, is premature and represents interference by the judicial branch in a measure by the executive branch, further provoking the climate of institutional instability and political uncertainty," he said.

However, Ribiero added, the Supreme Court, which would have the ultimate say in the matter, still had to rule on the case.

On Tuesday, Judge Luciana Raquel Tolentino de Moura suspended Aragao, citing a constitutional order that prohibits members of the public prosecutor's office from working for the executive branch.

Aragao served as deputy attorney general, but the government authorized his appointment, arguing he began his career as a public prosecutor prior to the 1988 Constitution.

Rousseff faces the possibility of undergoing an impeachment trial if both houses of Congress vote in favor of the measure. Endi