The Brazilian Supreme Court unanimously reinforced a ruling on March 25, 2026 [4], limiting extra remuneration for judges and prosecutors.

The decision targets so-called “penduricalhos,” additional payments that often allow public officials to exceed the constitutional salary ceiling. By prohibiting structural changes designed to circumvent these limits, the court aims to bring transparency and uniformity to the pay structures of the judiciary.

Under the ruling, the court set a ceiling for extra payments, though some reports indicate these values can still reach R$ 78,000 per month [1]. The STF also banned indemnifications for leave as a means to bypass pay caps. According to one report, the decision extinguished 15 specific types of extra payments [2].

The financial implications of the ruling are significant. Some estimates suggest the potential impact on public finances could reach billions of reais [3]. The court's move is intended to ensure compliance with the constitutional ceiling on public-sector remuneration and prevent the persistence of supersalaries.

Not all observers viewed the ruling as a complete victory for fiscal restraint. Dr. Carlos Silva, a professor of Constitutional Law, said, "A decisão cria um precedente perigoso ao permitir pagamentos adicionais fora do teto constitucional."

Similarly, a spokesperson for República.org said, "A decisão reforça privilégios de poucos e mantém a manutenção de supersalários."

Internal dynamics also played a role in the unanimous outcome. Minister Luiz Fux said, "O almoço foi produtivo e ajudou a consolidar o voto unânime dos ministros."

Despite the criticisms regarding the remaining allowances, the STF maintains that the ruling restricts the ability of officials to use administrative loopholes to inflate their monthly earnings beyond legal limits.

“The decision targets so-called “penduricalhos,” additional payments that often allow public officials to exceed the constitutional salary ceiling.”

This ruling represents a tension between the Brazilian judiciary's effort to appear fiscally responsible and the systemic persistence of high-tier public salaries. While the STF is closing loopholes to prevent 'supersalaries,' the fact that some extra payments can still reach R$ 78,000 suggests that the constitutional ceiling remains porous. The decision's success will depend on whether the court prevents new administrative categories of pay from emerging to replace the 15 extinguished allowances.