The article discusses how Brazilian magistrates receive additional payments above the constitutional ceiling, described with vague terms, including amounts paid even after mandatory retirement due to penalties for serious offenses.
The article reveals that Brazilian magistrates utilize ambiguous terminology such as 'late fees', 'temporary additions', and simply 'other' to disguise excessive salary components that surpass the legal pay cap. These terms obscure the reality of 'penduricalhos', which are additional benefits or perks, received by judges who have faced serious allegations and sanctions by the National Justice Council (CNJ), including corruption and harassment claims.
An investigation by G1 highlighted that there are at least 37 different labels used in the remuneration panel of the CNJ to categorize these extra payments, which continue even after judges retire compulsorily as a consequence of their misconduct. This pattern raises concerns over transparency in the judiciary and the management of public funds, especially given the gravity of offenses leading to the imposition of such penalties on these judges.
In a recent development, Supreme Court ministers Flávio Dino and Gilmar Mendes mandated a review and suspension of these illegal extras. Mendes emphasized the chaotic expansion of these unauthorized funds meant to circumvent the legal salary limits. Dino has called for further clarification on these payments, indicating a growing scrutiny within the Brazilian judicial system regarding the financial practices associated with magistrates and their remuneration.
