Flávio Dino de Castro e Costa (born 30 April 1968) is a Brazilian attorney, Supreme Court Justice, politician and professor. A former federal judge, Dino was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 2006 under the Communist Party banner, serving a four-year term until 2011, representing the state of Maranhão. He was elected as the governor of Maranhão after running in the 2014 election.[1] He became the governor of Maranhão on 1 January 2015.[2] He was reelected in 2018.[3] In 2021, Dino left the Communist Party to join the Socialist Party, and was appointed Minister of Justice by President Lula.
Dino also served 3 years as president of Embratur, a federal agency promoting Brazilian tourism, between his legislative term and gubernatorial term.[4] Dino was considered a leading left-wing candidate[5] in the 2022 presidential election but chose to forgo a candidacy, instead choosing to run for Senate.[6]
While performing his duty as Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino was nominated by President Lula to the Supreme Court of Brazil, being sworn in office on 22 February 2024 after his confirmation by the Brazilian Senate.
Early life and family
Flávio Dino de Castro e Costa was born in São Luís on 30 April 1968.[1]
Flávio graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1991, and returned to the Federal University of Maranhão in 1993 as a professor.[1] While working as a professor, Dino got involved with the university's activist scene, and later began advising the university's workers unions.[1]
Political career
Federal judge
Starting in 1994, Dino became a federal judge, ranking first in among the applicants.[1]
From 2000 to 2002,[citation needed] he served as the chair of the National Association of Federal Judges (AJUFE).[1] During his time as a judge, Dino also served as the Secretary-General of the National Council of Justice (CNJ).[1]
In 2006, he resigned from his position as a judge, and decided to devote himself to politics instead.[1]
Dino ran again in the 2014 Maranhão gubernatorial election.[1] He campaigned on promises of anti-corruption, expanding clean water access, launching a housing construction and renovation program, and improving public security.[1] In 2014, he was elected as the state's governor in the first round of the election, with 63.52 percent of the valid votes.[2][1]
