Brazil: Judge Bans Protest Against Housing Aid Paid to Judges

A Brazilian judge in the state of Bahia has prohibited a protest organized by social movements in the capital city of Salvador against exorbitant housing allowances paid to judges and public prosecutors. The protest was meant to coincide with judge Sergio Moro's appearance at a scheduled event in the city.

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Demonstrators also planned to protest against the politicization of Brazil's judiciary system in the lead-up to the October general elections.

Moro is the judge who charged, interrogated, convicted and sentenced former Brazilian President and current presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to over 12 years in prison without producing evidence.

Contrarily, the United Nations' Human Rights Committee recently determined that the Brazilian state must “take all necessary measures” to enable Lula to exercise his full political rights as a candidate in the October presidential elections.

Judges and public prosecutors in the state of Bahia receive approximately USD$1,100 per month, apart from their monthly salary, to cover for housing expenses.

The average base income for a judge at the beginning of his or her career is USD$6,600 per month, according to Bahia Noticias. Brazil's minimum wage is currently USD$233.

Earlier this month state judges made an official request to the Supreme Federal Court requesting a salary increase of 16.3 percent. They noted that the sector had not received a salary adjustment since 2015, arguing in favor of a raise due to “insupportable accumulated monetary loss.”

A single judge from the state of Bahia, Gerivaldo Alves Neiva, presented official documentation on his Facebook page proving that he doesn't receive the housing allowance. He described the extra payment as “a great aberration...I pay to maintain my residence and other expenses.”