Adriana Alves dos Santos Cruz is a Brazilian jurist, federal judge in the state of Rio de Janeiro. She became notable for being one of the first black female federal judges in Brazil in 1999, and for leading several initiatives to promote human rights and racial equality in the Judiciary.
Education
editAdriana graduated in Law from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in 1993. She has a master's degree in Constitutional Law and Theory of State from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, in 2010, and a PhD in Criminal Law from the State University of Rio de Janeiro, in 2018.[1]
Professional Career
editAdriana took office as a federal judge in 1999, as part of the 2% of federal judges who identify as black.[2] She presides over the 5th Federal Criminal Court in the state of Rio de Janeiro, specialized in money laundering and financial system crimes.[3]
She is part of the Executive Committee of the Human Rights Observatory of the Judiciary, an initiative by the National Council of Justice.[4] She was one of the creators of the National Meeting of Black Judges (ENAJUN), held annually since 2017, and the National Forum of Judges Against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination (Fonajurd), launched in 2020.[5][6]
In 2015, she was appointed as an instructing magistrate in the office of Supreme Federal Court Justice Luís Roberto Barroso.[7]
In 2023, a group of organizations representing the black movement, with support from dozens of legal entities, included Adriana on a shortlist of 3 black female judges as nominees to join the Supreme Court in the upcoming vacancy of Justice Rosa Weber, who reaches the compulsory retirement age in September this year. The list also includes jurists Lívia Santana e Sant’Anna Vaz and Soraia Mendes.[7] The movement aims to support the appointment of the first black woman to the Supreme Court in its 132 year history.[8]
Awards
editThe ENAJUN and Fonajurd initiatives received, in 2021, the Black Leadership Challenge award, promoted by the Arapyaú Institute, the Humanize Institute, the Lemann Foundation and the República.org Institute.[6][9]
For her work in human rights she received, in 2021, the 2nd EMERJ Human Rights Award.[10]
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- ^ "Judge Adriana Cruz will be one of the speakers at the Congress of the Judiciary of Minas Gerais". amagis.com.br. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ Superior Electoral Court (2021-03-04). "Female leaders discuss equality in live session with president of Superior Electoral Court". Superior Electoral Court. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ Soares, Lucas. "Getting to know federal judges #3 - Adriana Cruz". www.ajufe.org.br. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ "Opinion - Adriana Cruz and Karen Luise Souza: Justice must provide answers". Folha de S.Paulo. 2023-04-25. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ Pinto, Priscilla Rodrigues Peixoto (2020-07-08). "National Council of Justice launches working group on racial equality in the Judiciary". www.ajufe.org.br. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ a b "ENAJUN/FONAJURD wins first place in Black Leadership Challenge. – AJUFERJES". Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ a b "Organization nominates shortlist of black women jurists for next vacancy on Supreme Court". CartaCapital. 2023-08-21. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ almapreta. "More just justice: group presents shortlist of black women for Supreme Court vacancy". Terra. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ geysa.bigonha (2021-01-25). "Initiative with judge who is part of CNJ Observatory is finalist for black leadership award". CNJ Portal. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
- ^ "2nd EMERJ Human Rights Award honors federal judge". www.jfrj.jus.br. 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2023-09-06.