Brazil's Supreme Court Debates Jurisdiction to Investigate Moraes

Brazilian Federal Supreme Court (STF) Justice André Mendonça recommended that his colleague Alexandre de Moraes be investigated within the scope of the "Master Case." Mendonça's decision came after a Federal Police report identified at least six meetings and message exchanges between Moraes and former banker Daniel Vorcaro.

Under the Constitution and the Court's internal rules, an investigation into a justice requires the authorization of the STF Plenary. The Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) will assess the situation and, if deemed appropriate, request the opening of an investigation, but this is also subject to court approval. The PGR has already requested the annulment of certain proceedings in the case.

If investigative authority is granted, the case will be assigned by lot to one of the other ten justices. Moraes will be removed from the proceedings, and a potential trial would be conducted by the ten justices without his participation.