São Paulo court launches 'Pacto' program to monitor judges working from home

The Court of Justice of São Paulo has introduced a new program, "Pacto" (Program for Monitoring Compliance with Remote Work), aimed at overseeing judges who conduct their work from home. This initiative seeks to ensure that magistrates adhere to mandatory in-person attendance requirements at the physical courthouses.

Presiding Judge Silvia Rocha, the Corregedora-Geral da Justiça, stated that the program will monitor judges "on a rotating and monthly basis." Unjustified non-compliance with the minimum in-person attendance could result in the suspension of remote work authorization, along with potential administrative and disciplinary actions.

The creation of 'Pacto' stems from systematic reviews by the General Corregedoria, prompted by disciplinary complaints and reports from parties and lawyers. These reviews revealed recurring discrepancies between declared in-person attendance schedules and the actual physical presence of magistrates in their judicial units. The program aims to enhance the credibility and security of the remote work regime for magistrates, thereby maintaining and improving judicial services.

Resolution 850 of the São Paulo State Court of Justice mandates that magistrates opting for remote work must attend the courthouse at least three to four business days per week, depending on the court's classification. This measure reflects a broader trend across Brazil, where an increasing number of magistrates are reluctant to return to full-time in-person duties, often citing long commutes from their residences, sometimes over 100 kilometers away.

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The program aims to ensure greater credibility and security for the remote work regime of the court's magistrates, as a means of maintaining and improving this form of jurisdictional provision.