Brazil’s Right-Wing Congress Wants Judge Moraes Out, the Man Who Jailed Bolsonaro
Brazil just held its elections, and the fallout is already heading for the courtroom. Jair Bolsonaro’s allies did well, and a lot of them want to go after one man: Justice Alexandre de Moraes. He is the Supreme Court judge behind the coup case that sent the former president to jail. Reuters reports that the incoming right-wing Congress is weighing an impeachment that has never been tried before against a sitting justice. If it works, Brazil’s highest court could look very different in a few years.
Why Moraes Is the Man Bolsonaro’s Camp Wants Gone
Moraes, 57, ran the trial that ended with Bolsonaro in jail for plotting to cling to power after he lost to Lula in 2022. Since then he has been one of the most argued-over people in the country. Fans say he defended democracy. Critics say he used his power too freely, and they point to his 2024 order to block X after the platform ignored the court. Donald Trump even called the case a witch hunt and put sanctions on the judge for a short time in 2025.
Lately there is a new problem. A federal police report showed messages between Moraes and a jailed banker linked to Brazil’s biggest banking fraud. Bolsonaro is being investigated over ties to the same banker. To be clear, nothing has been proven against Moraes, and dozens of impeachment requests have been filed against him over the years.
Can the Senate Really Remove a Supreme Court Justice?
On paper, yes. The constitution lets senators try a justice for breaking constitutional rules or putting public safety at risk. The catch is the vote. A conviction usually needs two-thirds of the Senate, and that is hard to reach. Still, Bolsonaro’s side could be close when the new Senate starts work in February.
The likely Senate president is Rogerio Marinho, who ran Bolsonaro’s campaign. He has told several justices the Senate isn’t looking for payback, though he also says nobody is above the law. Senator-elect Domingos Savio says an impeachment should go ahead with a full chance for the judge to defend himself.
There is a bigger story behind it. Right now the court blocks some of the hardest-line right-wing laws, on topics from Indigenous rights to internet rules. Remove one justice and a seat opens up, which could push the court to the right for years. Opponents say that is exactly the point, and that it would weaken one of the few checks on political power.
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