Brazilian Supreme Court suspends sessions amid internal justice feud
Brazil's Supreme Court canceled a second consecutive day of deliberations as tensions among its members escalated. Justice Andre Mendonca released federal police documents that appeared to implicate Justice Alexandre de Moraes in a bank scandal. De Moraes has accused Mendonca of abusing his authority and requested an investigation into his conduct.
Chief Justice Luiz Edson Fachin halted a second consecutive session, rescheduling deliberations for Tuesday. The crisis began when Justice Andre Mendonca, a Bolsonaro appointee, released police files showing banker Daniel Vorcaro—arrested over the Banco Master collapse that left $7 billion in debt—sent roughly 30 messages to Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
Justice de Moraes has requested a probe into Mendonca's handling of the documents, questioning whether he interviewed Vorcaro without prosecutors present. The scandal has ensnared politicians, with President Lula and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro calling for investigations. Thursday's police raids targeted figures linked to a film financed by Vorcaro, intensifying pressure before October's elections.
The escalating feud between Supreme Court justices could undermine public trust in Brazil's judicial independence, particularly as the Banco Master scandal touches multiple political factions. Voters may view the court's internal conflict as a sign of political interference, potentially polarizing the electorate ahead of October's presidential election. If the court fails to resolve its divisions transparently, it could weaken institutional checks on power, affecting how citizens perceive the legitimacy of both legal rulings and electoral outcomes.