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2mo ago

Lula Signs Law Regulating STJ Relevance Filter for Special Appeals

By requiring petitioners to show national economic, political, social or legal relevance, the law gives the STJ a limited power to suspend nationwide cases while it sets a uniform precedent.

Lula sanciona filtro de relevância para recursos especiais no STJ
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Motta celebra sanção de filtro do STJ e destaca harmonia entre Poderes

Overview

  • President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed the law on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and the text is set for publication in the Diário Oficial before the STJ begins formal application.
  • The rule requires anyone filing a recurso especial to explain why the legal question matters beyond the parties, citing economic, political, social or legal relevance as the admission standard.
  • A recurso can be rejected for lack of relevance only if at least two‑thirds of the judging body vote to refuse it, a qualified quorum added to curb unilateral or simple‑majority exclusions.
  • When the STJ decides a question is relevant and needs a definitive answer, it may order the suspension of all cases on that same issue nationwide for up to six months with a single possible renewal, pausing many individual cases while a uniform ruling is formed.
  • The law implements Constitutional Amendment 125/2022 after years of negotiation between Senate leaders and STJ officials, and backers say it will cut the court’s caseload, change litigation strategy, and make lower courts follow STJ precedents more quickly as Luis Felipe Salomão prepares to take the STJ presidency in mid‑August.