Senate Approves 200-Post Expansion at Brazil’s Supreme Court

Overview

• The Senate voted 36–18 to pass PL 769/2024, creating 160 commissioned functions and 40 technical judiciary posts for the STF, with the technical roles assigned to the court’s judicial police.
• The proposal proceeds to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for sanction.
• The new commissioned functions are slated to start in 2025, contingent on inclusion in the Annual Budget Law annex and express authorization in the Budget Guidelines Law.
• Supporters say the changes fit within the STF’s current budget, while opponents questioned adding positions given Brazil’s fiscal pressures.
• Earlier approval at the STJ added 330 commissioned functions, bringing STF–STJ additions to 530 positions in total, with media estimating recurring costs near R$25 million per year.