"A crisis has broken out between the Judiciary and the Executive branches."

Pernambuco 247 - The president of the Pernambuco Court of Justice (TJPE), Judge Frederico Neves, was very displeased with the budget cuts announced by the State Government to the Judiciary. "A crisis has arisen between the Judiciary and the Executive branches of Pernambuco," said Neves during a meeting with the State's Union of Court Officers and other entities linked to the Judiciary. In a statement, the president of the TJPE indicated that he will study administrative measures – including the closure of courts in the interior – and judicial measures to avoid the reduction in the expected allocation. The State Government has not commented on the matter.  

See below for the full text of the TJPE's statement on the matter. 

Yesterday, the President of the Court of Justice of Pernambuco, Judge Frederico Neves, after several meetings with Governor Paulo Câmara, was surprised by the news that the Executive Branch will confirm a significant cut in the Judiciary's budget.

No government is permitted, even under the pretext of difficulties, to adopt, as a first alternative, a stance that violates the independence of another branch of government by unilaterally cutting budget cuts without formal communication and prior deliberation by the legislative branch.

Disrespect for the autonomy of the Judiciary, on this scale, is reprehensible behavior never before experienced in Pernambuco, and it jeopardizes the Democratic Rule of Law.

Furthermore, it should be noted that, according to the CNJ Transparency Portal (link to budget), the percentage of participation of the Pernambuco Judiciary's budget, 3,73%, in the State's General Budget is one of the three worst in the country, when compared to that of other states in the federation.

In view of this, the Presidency of the Court of Justice has called an extraordinary plenary session for next Monday (April 13th), at 10 am, so that the collegiate body can deliberate on the administrative and judicial measures to be adopted.

If this scenario continues, some judicial services provided to the population could be seriously compromised, risking the impracticality of several projects planned for this year that would strengthen the fight against crime, such as the doubling of the Women's Violence Courts and the Narcotics Courts in the capital, the installation of the Women's Violence Courts in Caruaru and Petrolina, the creation of the Organized Crime Combat Court and another Criminal Enforcement Court.

Another alternative being considered is the deactivation of judicial districts in the interior, due to an absolute lack of appropriate resources, which, unfortunately, will affect the population.