The Supreme Court of Brazil cancelled a second consecutive day of judicial deliberations on Thursday as serious allegations of political bias, corruption, and police interference deepened rifts among its members, Chief Justice Luiz Edson Fachin confirmed, according to The Associated Press and AFP. Unscheduled closures remain exceedingly rare for the highest tribunal, but mounting institutional friction prompted leadership to reschedule oral arguments for the coming Tuesday. The procedural suspension follows mutual accusations exchanged after one sitting justice faced scrutiny over alleged communications tied to a major banking collapse.
The public confrontation among the magistrates marks an unusual fracture within the federal judiciary.
Tensions surfaced at the start of September when Justice Andre Mendonca unsealed sensitive federal police documentation concerning the collapse of Banco Master. The materials reportedly indicate that former bank chief Daniel Vorcaro sought direct guidance from Justice Alexandre de Moraes. De Moraes had previously overseen pivotal proceedings against former President Jair Bolsonaro regarding alleged coup conspiracies following the 2022 general elections, alongside regulatory orders restricting digital platforms. Mendonca made public approximately 30 messages allegedly transmitted to a mobile number registered to de Moraes.
De Moraes strongly rejected the insinuations, accusing Mendonca of misusing judicial prerogatives for partisan objectives and requesting an inquiry into whether Mendonca conducted improper private interviews with the detained executive without official prosecutorial presence. The full bench of 10 magistrates will convene on Tuesday to deliberate whether a formal inquiry regarding de Moraes` conduct should proceed.
The institutional turmoil stems from the broader fallout surrounding Banco Master, where Vorcaro was arrested in November 2025 on charges of defrauding investors out of billions of dollars. The collapse of the institution`s private banking division generated more than $7bn in debt, drawing lawmakers across various legislative factions into the ongoing federal probe. The dispute arrives just ahead of critical general elections scheduled for October, in which incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva faces challenges from political opponents, including Senator Flavio Bolsonaro.
Both the executive administration and conservative opposition leaders have demanded comprehensive inquiries into the conduct of the high court. Brazilian federal police executed numerous search warrants on Thursday targeting individuals associated with commercial ventures linked to the wider financial investigation.
