New National Justice Corregidor Takes Office in Brazil, Urges Judges to Resist Pressure

Benedito Gonçalves, 72, assumed the role of Brazil's National Corregidor of Justice on Tuesday, delivering a powerful address that called for unwavering judicial integrity. "Preserve conscience, resist pressure, and do not allow power, fear, and convenience to override the duty to administer justice," Gonçalves urged magistrates, quoting Rui Barbosa's "Oração aos Moços" (Prayer to the Young) to underscore the heroic nature of judicial service.

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Preserve conscience, resist pressure, and do not allow power, fear, and convenience to override the duty to administer justice.

Serving until 2028, Gonçalves, a minister at the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), replaces Mauro Campbell Marques. The Corregedoria Nacional de Justiça, part of the CNJ, handles complaints against judges and conducts investigations into potential serious infractions. In his inaugural speech, Gonçalves navigated away from contentious issues like judicial misconduct or excessive salaries, instead advocating for a philosophy of "orienting before sanctioning" and "preventing before repressing." He pledged to combine technical rigor with open dialogue during his tenure.

Gonçalves emphasized that the CNJ's role, established after extensive debates on judicial management, must be guided by clarity and a focus on practical realities. He stated that the Corregedoria's function extends beyond procedural oversight to ensuring justice is accessible, efficient, and genuinely committed to societal needs. "More than inspecting procedures, it is the Corregedoria's duty to contribute to justice being accessible, efficient, and truly committed to society," he remarked.

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A judge's place is in the district, in the jurisdiction, in the court, in the judicial unit, and close to the society that depends on the service.

Addressing the inevitable march of technological advancement, Gonçalves described it as an "unavoidable challenge." While acknowledging its potential to boost efficiency, he firmly stated that technology can never substitute for a judge's presence or their connection to local realities. "A judge's place is in the district, in the jurisdiction, in the court, in the judicial unit, and close to the society that depends on the service," he asserted. He concluded by envisioning a future judiciary that is not only digital but also clearer, more accessible, simpler, reliable, and fundamentally human.

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More than inspecting procedures, it is the Corregedoria's duty to contribute to justice being accessible, efficient, and truly committed to society.