Paraná leads ranking of expense increase; Only Bahia and Mato Grosso no longer advance the price index, according to Treasury data
States spending on the judiciary increased above inflation in 24 states by 2024. The largest annual increase was in Paraná, with an annual advance of 29.2% in salary and charges expenses. Rondônia (26.77%) and Acre (21.5%) close the top 3 of greater increases. A.
Only Bahia (3.18%) and Mato Grosso (-5.88%) had variations below the price index. The Mato Grosso Justice was the only one with a reduction in expenses last year.
The data of this report was raised by the Poder360 no (Accounting and Tax Information System of the Brazilian Public Sector), based on information stated by the states.
The personnel expenses of the state courts are considered. Brasilia did not enter the survey because the budget of the (Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories) is linked to the Union and the expenses are described differently.
Read the detail in the infographic:
Inactive: More than 1/4 of expenses
Inactive spending (retirees + pensioners) represent 26.6% of the total disbursed for employees’ payment. This percentage varies between states, and is higher in Rio de Janeiro (35.4%).
Only Maranhão, Amapá and Roraima have a proportion below 10% in these expenses.
Expenses from 2016 to 2024 went from R $ 35.38 billion to R $ 73.38 billion in nominal values (no correction for inflation). The highest percentage was recorded in 2022, when wage costs rose 16.636% compared to the previous year.
Disparities, hangers and transparency
To Executive Director of this disparity in the salaries of the judiciary “It further increases the differences between judiciary and executive, in which management and public policy responsible have less attractive careers.”.
She says it would be important a better classification in the paychecks released by the CNJ (National Council of Justice) to improve the transparency of these expenses. There are hundreds of different rubrics, making it difficult to compilage information in a standard.
The hanging, according to Sakai, also contribute to the increase of these expenses. She mentions, for example, that only common license cost at least $ 819 million to the judiciary in almost 1 year.
“This license allows an increase of up to 1/3 of the magistrates’ remuneration and has turbocharged paychecks as indemnities, that is, they are not accounted for remuneration and thus do not focus on the constitutional ceiling, nor collect income tax.”he declared.
2nd most expensive justice in the world
Brazilian justice in general (states + union) consumes 1.3% of GDP annually (gross domestic product). This percentage is the highest 2nd of 50 nations analyzed by the National Treasury, losing only to El Salvador. Here of the organ report with this information (PDF – 1 MB).
The international average of court spending is 0.3% of GDP –1 percentage point less than Brazil. In developed countries, this expense corresponds to 0.3% and in emerging economies, 0.5%.
Judiciary expenses involve payment of employees, costing buildings and payments of judges and judges – which earn, in addition to salaries, benefits that and encompass aid such as meal and housing.
What the Courts say
O Poder360 contacted the state court communication team and gave the opportunity to send any comments on the data presented in this report. Emails were sent at 3:52 pm on Wednesday (26.mar.2025).
Only 4 courts responded. Read the main excerpts of what each said:
- Bahia Court of Justice – “The Justice System encompasses the Judiciary, the Public Prosecution Service, the Public Defender’s Office and the Secretariat of Public Security. The product offered by these institutions are services provided to society by civil servants, so most of the budget refers to personnel expense.”;
- Court of Justice of Paraná – “The TJPR will not comment on it”;
- Court of Justice of Minas Gerais – “The spending of the Minas Gerais Court accompanied the systematic increase in the search for justice and respect the limits provided for in the Fiscal Responsibility Law”;
- Military Court of Minas Gerais – “All TJMMG budget execution was strictly provided for in the annual budget law, approved by the Minas Gerais Legislative Assembly”.
Access here the answers given by the organs (PDF – 48 KB).
