✓ verbatim from the press
Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) suspended the application of the Dosimetry Law — a norm that changes criteria for prison regime progression and sentence remission for crimes against the Democratic Rule of Law — until the Court's plenary judges direct actions of unconstitutionality challenging the measure. The suspension was based on the "principle of legal security," according to a decision published on Saturday (9). ✓
Press quotes (1)
"A superveniência de interposição de ação direta de inconstitucionalidade e, consequentemente a pendência de julgamento em controle concentrado de constitucionalidade, configura fato processual novo e relevante, que poderá influenciar no julgamento dos pedidos realizados pela Defesa, recomendando a suspensão da aplicação da lei, por segurança jurídica, até definição da controvérsia pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal, com prosseguimento regular da presente execução penal em seus exatos termos, conforme transitado em julgado"
Law 15.402/2026 had been promulgated on Friday (8) by Senate President Davi Alcolumbre, after Congress overturned the presidential veto with 318 votes in the Chamber and 49 in the Senate. The norm establishes new criteria for regime progression and sentence remission in convictions for crimes against the Democratic Rule of Law, altering provisions of the Penal Execution Law and the Penal Code. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"A Lei 15.402/2026 alterou dispositivos da Lei de Execução Penal e do Código Penal para estabelecer novos critérios de progressão de regime e remição de pena em condenações por crimes contra o Estado Democrático de Direito."
Moraes' decision was initially taken in the case of Nara Faustino de Menezes, sentenced to 16 years and 6 months in prison for crimes related to the January 8 acts, including violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law and coup d'état. The understanding extended to other similar criminal executions — in total, the minister suspended the application of the law in eight processes related to those convicted for the January 8 acts. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Uma das decisões envolve Nara Faustino de Menezes, condenada na Ação Penal 1.411/DF pelos atos golpistas de 8 de janeiro. Ela recebeu pena de 16 anos e 6 meses de prisão, além de integrar a condenação coletiva ao pagamento de R$ 30 milhões por danos morais coletivos. [...] Entre os crimes atribuídos à condenada estão abolição violenta do Estado Democrático de Direito e golpe de Estado."
"Em decisões assinadas hoje (9) nos autos das Execuções Penais (EPs) 41, 134, 100, 102, 43, 52, 61 e 72, ao despachar sobre pedidos de aplicação da nova lei às condenações, o ministro explicou que, por segurança jurídica, a norma ainda não deve ser aplicada."
Two direct actions of unconstitutionality motivated the suspension: one presented by the Brazilian Press Association (ABI) and another by the PSOL-Rede federation. The ABI specifically questions three points of the law: permission for crimes against democracy "in the same context" not to have sentences added together, sentence reduction in crowd context, and changes in regime progression of the Penal Execution Law. Moraes was drawn as rapporteur of the actions on Friday night. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"As ações questionando a nova lei foram apresentadas pela Associação Brasileira de Imprensa (ABI) e pela federação PSOL-Rede."
"A ABI pede que a lei seja suspensa até seu julgamento e que o tribunal a considere inconstitucional nos seguintes pontos: - a permissão para que crimes contra a democracia "inseridos no mesmo contexto" não tenham as penas somadas; - a possibilidade de redução de pena de delitos praticados em contexto de multidão. - dois incisos que alteram a progressão de Regime prevista na Lei de Execução Penal."
Three direct actions of unconstitutionality were filed against the Dosimetry Law: ABI, PSOL-Rede and Brasil da Esperança Federation
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (2)
Conflicting versions (1)
Authorship and influence in drafting the Dosimetry Law text
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When will the STF plenary analyze the unconstitutionality actions against the Dosimetry Law?
Why it's still unknown: The decision does not indicate a deadline, and it is up to the court president, Edson Fachin, to include the actions on the agenda
Did not cover: Congressoemfoco -
What was the specific reasoning of the third ADI presented by the Brasil da Esperança Federation?
Why it's still unknown: Sources mention the existence of the action but do not detail its specific legal arguments
Did not cover: G1 Noticias -
What doctrinal test will be applied by the STF to analyze the constitutionality of the law?
Why it's still unknown: No source mentions which jurisprudential framework (proportionality, balancing, etc.) will be used in the analysis
Did not cover: G1 Noticias Congressoemfoco -
How have other STF ministers positioned themselves on similar monocratic decisions in analogous cases?
Why it's still unknown: Sources did not report positions of other ministers on the suspension of laws by individual decision