# Brazil judicial retirement reform

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-judicial-retirement-reform
> Updated: 2026-08-04T20:45:23.000Z. Sources: 28. Developments: 2.

In early July 2026 Brazil’s lower house approved a constitutional amendment ending compulsory retirement for judges. A month later the National Justice Council (CNJ) voted to abolish forced retirement as a disciplinary sanction, replacing it with a regime of availability and proportional pay that requires a judicial decision after a civil action by the Attorney‑General’s Office before the Supreme Federal Court to remove a judge. The CNJ also introduced conduct rules to map judges’ family and professional ties and monitor conflicts of interest.

On 4 August 2026 the CNJ adopted a resolution that makes loss of office – implemented through a period of availability with proportional pay – the maximum penalty for serious infractions such as sale of sentences, sexual or moral harassment, and corruption. Judges found guilty in a disciplinary administrative process will be placed in availability until a court decision confirms loss of the position; full exoneration still requires a civil action by the Advocacia‑Geral da União before the STF. The reform follows a recent STF ruling that declared compulsory retirement unconstitutional as a punitive measure. Over the past two decades 126 magistrates had been forced into retirement. CNJ president and STF minister Edson Fachin called the change a “significant shift,” and the council presented a code of conduct proposal to further prevent conflicts of interest.

## Claims

- The CNJ approved a resolution ending compulsory retirement as a disciplinary sanction for magistrates. (corroborated by 14 sources)
- The new maximum penalty for serious infractions is loss of office, implemented through a period of availability with proportional pay. (corroborated by 14 sources)
- The reform follows a Supreme Federal Court decision that declared compulsory retirement unconstitutional as a punitive measure. (corroborated by 14 sources)
- Judges convicted in a PAD will be placed in availability with proportional remuneration until a judicial decision on loss of office. (corroborated by 14 sources)
- Full exoneration (loss of office) requires a civil action by the Advocacia‑Geral da União before the STF. (corroborated by 14 sources)
- CNJ president Edson Fachin said the measure represents a significant change in disciplinary treatment of magistrates. (corroborated by 14 sources)
- In the past 20 years, 126 magistrates were subjected to compulsory retirement. (corroborated by 12 sources)
- CNPS approved the Ministry of Previdência's proposal for the 2027 budget on 4 August 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The proposal includes a 7.7% increase in mandatory expenses for 2027 compared with 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Mandatory benefits are projected to rise 8.6% from R$1.074 trillion to R$1.166 trillion. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Compensation expenses are projected to fall 0.2% from R$7.895 billion to R$7.880 billion. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Judicial‑sentence expenses are projected to decrease 8.1% from R$53.732 billion to R$49.391 billion. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-04: Brazil's CNJ abolishes compulsory retirement, adds loss of office for magistrates

Brazil's CNJ ends compulsory retirement for magistrates, making loss of office the top penalty for serious misconduct, following an STF ruling; 126 judges had previously faced the old sanction.

28 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazils-national-social-security-council-approves-2027-budget-with-77-rise-in-mandatory-spending

### 2026-07-08: Brazilian Chamber Approves Constitutional Amendment to End Compulsory Judicial Retirement

Brazil's Chamber constitutional committee approved PEC 291/13, ending compulsory retirement for judges as punishment; the proposal now heads to a special committee.

29 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazilian-congress-moves-to-end-compulsory-judicial-retirement

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Cite as: Brazil judicial retirement reform. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-judicial-retirement-reform