Judge Mário Márcio de Almeida Sousa criticizes STF salary cuts

Judge Mário Márcio de Almeida Sousa, of the 8th Civil Court of São Luís, has issued an open letter criticizing recent decisions by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) regarding the reduction of judicial benefits, known as ‘penduricalhos’. The magistrate reports that the adjustments have resulted in a loss of more than 20% of his monthly net income.

Soussa expressed significant distress over the impact on his financial stability and long-term plans, noting that his net earnings dropped from approximately R$ 88,500 in February to R$ 41,600 in July. He argued that these additional payments had become a predictable part of his income, which he relied upon after 24 years of dedicated service to the judiciary.

While acknowledging that there have been abuses in the payment of such benefits, the judge maintains that his specific case should not be subject to these cuts. He called upon the STF and the National Council of Justice (CNJ) to review what he perceives as excesses in these decisions.