Brazil's Supreme Court upholds ban on compulsory retirement for judges
The First Chamber of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) unanimously rejected a petition from the Attorney General's Office (PGR) that sought to overturn the Court's earlier ruling ending compulsory retirement as a disciplinary sanction for magistrates. The judges reaffirmed that the 2019 pension reform removed the constitutional basis for such a penalty, making loss of office the maximum sanction for serious infractions.
Relator Justice Flávio Dino said the former “pension‑retirement” was effectively a “punishment that does not punish” because it allowed judges to keep their benefits. The PGR had argued that the STF lacked competence to hear loss‑of‑office cases and that the change threatened judicial independence, but the Court found no new arguments to merit a reversal. The decision confirms the earlier March ruling and clarifies that future disciplinary actions must be initiated by the Attorney General’s Office and judged by the STF.