Brazil's judicial system will enter its annual recess period, which begins on December 20, 2024, and runs through January 6, 2025, affecting various courts across the country. During this downtime, procedural deadlines will be temporarily suspended, but emergency services will remain operational for urgent legal matters.
The Tribunal Regional do Trabalho da 15ª Região has announced its operational schedule for the recess, indicating it will be working under the plantão system, or on-duty schedule, from December 20 to January 6, 2025. According to the tribunal's communication, "During the recess, the judiciary will provide services for urgent matters only," ensuring access to justice is maintained even during the holiday season.
During this period, the court's public service will be paused, and procedural deadlines will also be suspended. Public services are set to resume on January 7, 2025, but all hearings and trial sessions will remain halted until January 20. The specified hours for urgent matters will be maintained for both first and second-degree courts, with different timings. For first-degree courts, hours are from 9 AM to 12 PM, and for second-degree courts from 2 PM to 6 PM, excluding weekends and holidays.
Similarly, the Tribunal Regional do Trabalho da 2ª Região has stated it will continue to support urgent judicial actions during this period, extending the suspension of procedural deadlines up until January 24, 2025. Initially set to end on January 20, this extension allows for adequate time to manage legal responsibilities for lawyers and clients alike.
The Tribunal Regional Eleitoral do Pará will also follow the same recess timeline, with specific provisions for public service from its different precincts, including the Núcleo de Atendimento ao Eleitor (NAE) units. These centers will operate from 8 AM to 12 PM during the holidays for urgent electoral matters, whilst maintaining the suspension of procedural deadlines until January 20, 2025.
One significant aspect of this judicial recess is the importance placed on emergency legal actions, which include habeas corpus requests, search and seizure requests, and urgent applications for provisional measures. The emphasis during this period is on ensuring immediate responses to pressing legal needs, allowing citizens to retain access to lawful redress.
At the national level, the Tribunal Superior Eleitoral (TSE) has announced its own set of adjustments. From December 20, 2024, through January 31, 2025, all processes under its jurisdiction will see suspended deadlines, automatically extending any deadlines falling during this timeframe. The TSE's on-duty service will operate with limited office hours from 1 PM to 6 PM, ensuring some access to legal resources during this downtime.
These emergency provisions are particularly relevant for those needing immediate legal assistance and ensuring compliance with the courts' regulations. The introduction of such schedules is borne out of requests from legal representatives and organizations like the Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil (OAB - São Paulo Section), highlighting the demand for uninterrupted legal services even during traditional holiday breaks.
The court systems' flexibility throughout these periods not only shows commitment to operational efficiency but also addresses the balance between judicial responsibilities and societal observances during holidays.
With the start of the new year, courts are poised to resume normal operations, and the judiciary's preparedness ensures an orderly transition back to standard schedules by the end of January. The process of re-engaging with their respective legal frameworks will commence with court sessions returning on January 21, 2025.
This period of recess, marked by judicial restraint and emergency availability, fosters not just compliance with procedural requirements but actively promotes the accessibility of justice during challenging times, reflecting broader commitments to civil rights and legal obligations.
