Here's how things are in real life over here.
There is a "forensic holiday" from late december (this year started on Dec 21) going on tru Jan 11 (in some places, returning earlier, on Jan 07, like here in Curitiba).
The problem is, the higher courts have a different regime, in some cases they may be shut down in different times, if anyone needs further clarification about a specific higher court, (TRFs, STJ, STF) just let me know and I will get you the info.
Carnival is only a holiday from Monday tru wednesday in SOME courts, most of them have "plantão" (specially appointed judges to deal with urgent cases) tru-out that period. Most courts return to work on Wednesday afternoon.
The real problem is, to find out when the judge (be it the lower court judge or, the "relator" in charge of the case in the higher courts) is going to take his regular leave (which may "fall" in different dates from those when the whole system shuts up).