A group of 17 business entities released this Wednesday (11) a manifesto in support of the initiative of the (Supreme Federal Court) to establish a code of conduct to discipline the performance of judges in higher courts. In the document, the organizations state that the measure strengthens the institutional integrity of the Judiciary and contributes to expanding legal security in the country.
Among the signatories are the Commercial Association of (ACSP), the Housing Union of São Paulo (Secovi-SP), the Civil Construction Industry Union of São Paulo (Sinduscon-SP) and the Civil Construction Industry Union of (Sinduscon-Rio).
The STF discusses issues aimed especially at ministers of the court and higher courts, with the aim of establishing clearer parameters of conduct, dealing with conflicts of interest and regulating the public actions of magistrates, including on social media. The initiative was proposed by the president of the STF, .
According to the manifesto, the code of ethics represents an advance in the standardization of behavior by reducing decisions considered excessively subjective and by establishing more objective criteria for sensitive situations. The entities also stated that the initiative creates mechanisms to face challenges of the digital age, such as the spread of misinformation.
The document also highlights the role of the STF as the highest body of the Judiciary and guardian of the , in addition to praising its role in protecting fundamental rights and balancing the Powers. For signatories, the body is essential to prevent abuses by the Executive and Legislative branches and to ensure that laws and administrative acts comply with constitutional principles.
“Based on international parameters of judicial ethics – such as the Bangalore Principles, adopted by the UN –, the project strengthens and protects legal institutions, based on premises enshrined in the Federal Constitution: morality, legality, publicity (transparency), impersonality and efficiency”, says the text.
In the assessment of the entities, strengthening the institutional integrity of the Judiciary is not only a moral issue, but also an economic factor, as it contributes to the predictability of decisions and the attraction of investments.
At the end of the manifesto, the signatories argue that the example of the STF should serve as a reference for all instances of power and for society, reinforcing the importance of ethical standards in public life and more transparent accountability mechanisms.
