Brazil's STJ to Undergo Major Transformation with New Relevance Filter

The Superior Court of Justice (STJ) in Brazil is set to undergo a significant change with the presidential sanction of a project regulating the so-called relevance filter for special appeals. The new rule requires appellants to demonstrate that the discussion goes beyond the interest of the parties involved and has relevance for the entire Brazilian population. This change, according to lawyer and law professor José Miguel Garcia Medina, modifies the function of STJ since its creation. It will restrict access to the Court, with only issues considered relevant beyond the interests of the appellants able to reach STJ. This may lead to different state courts consolidating distinct interpretations of the same federal law and potentially reduce the duration of some processes.