Ellen Gracie Northfleet

Ellen Gracie Northfleet
Ellen Gracie during a session of STF in 2006
Justice of the Supreme Federal Court
In office
14 December 2000  8 August 2011
Appointed byFernando Henrique Cardoso
Preceded byOctavio Gallotti
Succeeded byRosa Weber
52nd President of the Supreme Federal Court
In office
30 March 2006  24 April 2008
Vice PresidentGilmar Mendes
Preceded byNelson Jobim
Succeeded byGilmar Mendes
Personal details
Born (1948-02-16) 16 February 1948
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Alma materFederal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Other judicial positions

Ellen Gracie Northfleet (Portuguese: [ˈɛlẽj ˈɡɾejsi nɔʁtʃˈflitʃ]; born 16 February 1948) is a Brazilian judge. She is the first woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Brazil and the Court's first female president.

On 8 August 2011, she retired from the Court, 7 years before the full extension 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.