Brazilian judges refusing to pitch in with Covid-19 effort

As Covid-19 forces countries down the path to a recession, leaders around the world have taken a cut in their own wages. Isolation measures have been touted as the best way to slow down the spread of the virus, but they mean halting the in-person economy. With the fight against the coronavirus often being compared to a “war effort,” politicians in Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile, just to name a few, have decided to make this gesture to show they are ready to pitch in.

In Brazil, the lower house announced a BRL 150-million budget cut while the pandemic lasts. This consists of taxpayer money that would usually be spent on airline tickets, hotel accommodation, among other perks lawmakers enjoy, and will go to the anti-Covid-19 effort, whether it be to fund field hospitals, healthcare equipment, or provide financial relief to Brazilians. Economy Minister Paulo Guedes also floated the idea of freezing all federal public servants’ salaries for two years.

Yet, despite the dreadful economic scenario ahead for the country, one group of public officials have clung on to their privileges: members of Brazil’s justice system.

While workers are facing wage cuts of up to 70 percent — only to be partially compensated by...