Brazil judge halts law that could shorten Bolsonaro's jail term
A Supreme Court justice has suspended a new law that would reduce prison sentences for coup plotters, including former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazil's Supreme Court has temporarily stopped a new law that could have shortened the prison sentence of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the order on Saturday. The suspension will last until the Supreme Court can fully review legal challenges against the law.
The law applies to people convicted of plotting coups. Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year sentence for such a plot after losing the 2022 election. This new legislation could have allowed him to seek a reduced sentence sooner, potentially by 2028.
Lawmakers passed the bill in December. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva initially vetoed it. However, allies of Bolsonaro in Congress overturned the veto in April. The law was enacted on Friday.
Under the new law, defense lawyers must ask the Supreme Court to recalculate sentences for their clients. Justice de Moraes' ruling halts these recalculation requests. The full court will decide if the law is constitutional.
Several groups have challenged the law. Two political parties and the ABI press association filed lawsuits this week. Bolsonaro's lawyers have not yet asked for his sentence to be recalculated. They are separately seeking to overturn his conviction.
Reporting incorporates material from a third-party source. Original
