A bill that weakens the Public Defender’s office under debate at the São Paulo State Legislature (ALESP)
Over 100 organizations signed a statement opposing a bill that limits the scope of the body in defending minorities and socially vulnerable populations
Foto: Assembleia Legislativa de São Paulo
On Tuesday, 5 August, the São Paulo State Legislature (ALESP) is holding a public hearing to discuss a Complementary Bill proposing changes in the structure of the Public Defender’s Office. This has sparked strong reactions from civil society organizations and people who work at the Public Defender’s Office.
Although it includes provisions for salary adjustments for public defenders, the bill is criticized as it threatens democratic participation and compromises the body’s constitutional role in defending collective and diffuse rights.
Threats to independence and social participation
Complementary Bill 20/2025 was filed in June 2025 without consultation with civil society or members of the profession and concentrates power in the hands of senior management, limits the work of specialized units, such as Human Rights and Prison Issues, and reduces opportunities for listening and participating, such as the Open Session of the Superior Council.
Read more
One of the most controversial points is the creation of what has been dubbed the Advisory Group for Structural Demands, with the power to intervene in collective litigation with significant social impact. In practice, the measure could compromise defenders’ professional independence, and restrict access to the legal system for vulnerable populations.
The proposal also allows for meetings of the Superior Council to be held online or in a hybrid format, eroding the only formal channel for direct dialogue between civil society and the institution.
Political maneuvers and tension
The way in which members of Management at the Public Defender’s office have conducted the processing of the bill has also caused discomfort. The push to vote on this as a matter of urgency and the confrontational narrative adopted by the Public Defender-General have placed a strain on the relationship with parliamentarians traditionally committed to valuing the profession and strengthening the institutional framework of the Public Defender’s office. More than 110 organizations have spoken out against the Complementary Bill in a public statement that denounces the dismantling of the institution’s democratic governance.
Information
Public Hearing on the Public Defender’s Office Bill
Date: 5 August (Tuesday)
Time: 9am to 1pm
Venue: Teotônio Vilela Auditorium –São Paulo Legislature (ALESP)
Palácio 9 de Julho – Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, 201 – Moema, São Paulo (SP)
