In January 2026, nearly all judges in the State Justice of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, reported gross earnings exceeding R$100,000, which is significantly above the constitutional ceiling of R$46,366.19. Only five out of 240 magistrates earned below the R$100,000 mark, though their earnings also surpassed the legal limit. On average, net earnings were reported to be greater than R$97,000, indicating substantial financial benefits for these judicial officials.

The constitutional limit, known as the 'teto do funcionalismo,' determines the maximum remuneration that public servants can receive in Brazil, explicitly stating that no salary paid by the government may exceed what is received by the ministers of the Supreme Court. This salary cap is intended to ensure equity among public servants, yet the reality in the judiciary raises concerns about adherence to these financial restrictions. The salaries of judges are a contentious issue in the public domain, reflecting broader discussions about compensation in the public sector amid fiscal constraints.

An emblematic case highlighted in this context is that of the president of the Rio Grande do Norte Court of Justice, Judge Ibanez Monteiro, whose earnings reached an astonishing R$384,954.59 before deductions, revealing a disparity between expected salary limits and actual remuneration received. The implications of such high earnings among judges, especially in relation to the public sector's constitutional salary cap, have sparked debates about judicial accountability, transparency, and the need for reform in the pay structure of public servants in Brazil.