Brazilian judiciary reform and Supreme Court scrutiny

Discussions regarding the Brazilian judiciary have evolved from structural reform proposals to intense scrutiny of individual Supreme Federal Court (STF) justices.

Initial proposals for modernization, commissioned by Minister Luiz Edson Fachin, suggested expanding the National Council of Justice (CNJ) from 15 to 21 members to increase civil society parity and dividing the Council into specialized chambers. These reforms also aimed to increase transparency in judicial budget administration and expedite disciplinary actions.

Following recent presidential election results, the focus shifted toward internal tensions within the STF. While Justice Alexandre de Moraes has maintained political stability, Justices Kassio Nunes Marques and André Mendonça have faced increased pressure. Nunes Marques is facing calls for investigation regarding his involvement in a judgment involving court-ordered debts that allegedly benefited a specific banker, amid reports of a group known as the ‘Turma do KN’. Simultaneously, Justice Mendonça has faced accusations of directing investigations within the ‘Master’ case against Moraes while allegedly deprioritizing evidence involving other court members.