Brazil STJ relevance filter reform

In mid‑July 2026 Brazil’s lower house approved Project Law 3085/26, creating a “relevance filter” that requires petitioners to demonstrate that a special appeal to the Superior Tribunal of Justice (STJ) concerns matters of broader social, economic, political or legal importance. The measure, championed by deputy Raniery Paulino, aims to reduce the volume of pending appeals and focus the court on issues with national impact, though critics warned it could restrict access to justice for poorer litigants.

By the end of July, the reform moved toward implementation. The president’s sanction introduced the relevance filter into the STJ’s procedural rules, reinforcing the requirement that disputes transcend the parties’ private interests. Concurrently, the STJ applied a stricter interpretation of its jurisprudence in bank‑fraud cases, expanding restitution orders and emphasizing banks’ security duties. The combined legislative and judicial steps signal a broader shift toward limiting the STJ’s docket to cases of national relevance while enhancing consumer protection in financial fraud matters.