# Brazilian state courts salary cap controversy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/brazilian-state-courts-salary-cap-controversy
> Updated: 2026-08-07T22:26:19.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 3.

In July 2026 the Tribunal de Justiça de Minas Gerais confirmed that 98 staff members received net salaries above the STF ceiling, with a judicial support officer earning R$767,736.82 and two judicial officers each receiving between R$531,000 and R$583,800. The court said the excess stems from indemnities, retroactive salaries and constitutional vacation bonuses, and noted that the STF rules apply only to magistrates, prosecutors and public prosecutors.

A week later the Tribunal de Justiça do Acre reported R$7.13 million in indemnities and occasional allowances for May‑June 2024, ranking 14th among state courts. The payment report was accompanied by a tribute to retired Justice Jersey Pacheco.

On 7 August 2026 the Conselho Nacional de Justiça audited ATS benefits and found calculation errors affecting 59 of Brazil’s 63 courts, resulting in pending retroactive payments of about R$1.1 billion for 782 magistrates. Only four courts had correct calculations. The audit follows a March 2026 STF decision that suspended retroactive payments until proper audit criteria are established, and the STF must now validate the figures.

Together these developments show that state judiciaries continue to grapple with the STF‑imposed salary cap, relying on bonuses, indemnities and retroactive adjustments, while a large‑scale audit threatens to expose further excesses.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-07: Brazilian Supreme Court Audit Finds R$1.1 Billion Owed to Judges

A CNJ audit found R$1.1 billion in retroactive ATS benefits owed to 782 Brazilian judges, with 54 each owed over R$3 million; only four courts had correct calculations and the STF must validate the amounts.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazilian-supreme-court-audit-finds-r11-billion-owed-to-judges

### 2026-07-21: Tribunal de Justiça do Acre disburses $7.1 million in judicial allowances, honors former judge

The Acre State Court spent R$7.13 million on judicial allowances in May‑June 2024 and honored retired judge Jersey Pacheco for his 1995‑97 leadership.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tribunal-de-justia-do-acre-disburses-71-million-in-judicial-allowances-honors-former-judge

### 2026-07-10: Minas Gerais Court Payouts Exceed STF Salary Cap, One Employee Receives R$767k

In June 2026, over 98 Minas Gerais court staff earned above the STF salary ceiling, with a top payout of R$767,736 to a judicial support officer; TJMG says the sums are indemnities and retroactive payments not‑

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/minas-gerais-court-payouts-exceed-stf-salary-cap-one-employee-receives-r767k

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Cite as: Brazilian state courts salary cap controversy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/brazilian-state-courts-salary-cap-controversy