Brazil judiciary faces debates over employee pay and court costs

The Brazilian judiciary is facing internal debates regarding administrative compensation and the cost of legal proceedings. Between 2025 and 2026, various administrative acts created pecuniary advantages for employees in the Union's Judicial and Legislative branches. This trend evolved from compensatory leave for extraordinary work into monthly payments, such as the 'Gratificação pelo Exercício de Atividades de Alta Complexidade, Técnica e Administrativa' (GAACTA) established by a Supreme Federal Court (STF) resolution. These measures have sparked criticism regarding the legal reserve, the nature of indemnity versus salary, and constitutional limits on public service payments.

Simultaneously, a conflict has emerged between the judiciary and the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) over a proposed update to Federal Justice court costs. While the judiciary and the National Council of Justice (CNJ) argue that fees have been frozen since 2000 and no longer cover basic expenses, the OAB has requested that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva veto the measure. The OAB contends that the increase will create financial barriers to judicial access, particularly for middle-income citizens who do not qualify for free legal aid but cannot afford significantly higher costs.