The Brazilian Judiciary has “demonstrated practices that raise suspicions and generate mistrust” and, therefore, “a code of conduct is an indispensable measure for strengthening society’s trust.” This is what the signatories of the letter “Nobody Above the Law”, read this Monday (2) at an event in the main hall of the Faculty of Law, in Largo São Francisco, in the center of São Paulo, defend.
Amid the deterioration that has affected the image of the (Supreme Federal Court) in recent months, the initiative is part of a movement of the same name launched in December 2025. This Monday’s act was created by the entities Transparência Brasil, Derrubando Muros and Instituto Humanitas360.
According to the movement’s page, there are more than 66 thousand signatories to date. Participation in the initiative also includes civil society organizations, names from the private sector and lawyers.
The letter defended public trust in institutions as one of the pillars supporting democracy, based on the motto that “transparent and integral justice is non-negotiable”.
“There is a widely disseminated perception in society that private interests have been taking precedence over the public interest, with profound impacts on democratic legitimacy and the very notion of the Republic”, says the message.
The reading was done by Friar David Santos, Franciscan friar and director of Educafro. The religious man also spoke on behalf of the organization he heads and criticized the MPF (Federal Public Ministry) for what he called the persecution of the black population. “We are hurt by all political parties,” he said when commenting on possible deviations in party quotas.
The event was attended by the director of Transparência Brasil, Juliana Sakai. She commented on the efforts to implement direct access to public documents in Brazil and recalled the STF’s own understanding that the public interest overrides the right to privacy of public servants.
Eunice Prudente, law professor at USP and municipal secretary of Justice in São Paulo, recalled that the launch of the initiative takes place in an election year. She highlighted the role of civil society in Brazil’s political reopening and said she was “concerned” about the way young people participate today.
The executive director of TI (Transparency International) in Brazil, Bruno Brandão, used his speech to address cases involving the actions of Minister Dias Toffoli, of the STF. The leader recalled the suspicions raised against the magistrate during the Mensalão trial for his role as PT lawyer.
Brandão recalled the quote to Toffoli made by the executive of the construction company OAS, Leo Pinheiro, in his plea bargain. The contractor’s convictions were later overturned by the magistrate.
Finally, he also mentioned the recent clash between the minister and TI. In 2024, he ordered the Public Ministry to investigate the organization, which was close to Lava Jato prosecutors, for allegedly misappropriating public resources. “They never intimidated us,” said Brandão.
Toffoli is at the center of the debate over the code of ethics defended by the president of the STF, minister Edson Fachin. Former rapporteur of the Banco Master scandal in court, Toffoli left leading the process after a secret meeting between members of the Supreme Court. The minister is part of a company that has done business with the family of Daniel Vorcaro, owner of Master.
Conrado Hübner Mendes, professor at USP, columnist for Sheet and event coordinator, stated that the movement for the code of ethics does not seek a profound reform in Brazilian institutions and called the opposition of STF ministers to any changes “symptomatic”.
“The STF is no longer taken seriously for the reasons it should be taken seriously,” he said. “Authority is conquered, authority is managed and authority is preserved”, he added.
The event also featured names from the private sector and organizations not identified with the progressive field. Among them, Fábio Barbosa, executive, former president of Grupo Santander and member of the board of directors of Natura, and representatives of the Livres movement, which defends the liberal agenda in Brazilian society.
Pedro Parente, former minister of the Civil House during the government of Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB) and former president of Petrobras, also attended. “For those who perform public functions, such as the Judiciary, compliance with the law is a starting point. But society expects much more. It expects ethical and unquestionable standards of behavior,” he stated.
