Last month, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was convicted of plotting a coup, resulting in a 27-year prison sentence and a lifetime ban from holding public office. Evidence presented during the trial included a detailed written plan.
Following the verdict, supporters of Mr. Bolsonaro have organized protests. Concurrently, discussions have emerged among some members of Congress regarding a potential amnesty bill for the former president, a prospect that has in turn prompted its own series of public demonstrations.
This sequence of events in Brazil is presented as an illustration of a broader challenge confronting judicial systems worldwide. Courts are mandated to uphold the law and function as trusted neutral arbiters, contributing to the stabilization of democratic processes by preventing disputes from escalating into violence or political instability.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/world/courts-polarized-gaza-flotilla-israel-blockade-jane-goodall.html