A Brazilian judge was suspended after he was caught drinking wine and smoking during a virtual court session on Wednesday.
The incident has sparked scrutiny over judicial conduct and the legal protections that allow suspended officials to maintain high salaries during administrative investigations.
Milton Lívio Lemos Salles, a judge of the Tribunal de Justiça de Minas Gerais (TJMG), faced suspension following the breach of conduct rules [1, 2]. The suspension was prompted by actions taken during a virtual session, which led to interventions by both the TJMG and the National Council of Justice (CNJ) [3, 4].
Despite the suspension, Salles will continue to receive his monthly salary while the disciplinary procedure remains pending [1, 2]. Brazilian legislation guarantees payment to officials during the period of an administrative investigation to ensure due process before a final determination is made [3, 4].
There are conflicting reports regarding the exact amount of the judge's monthly compensation. Some reports state the net salary is R$ 835 thousand [1], while other sources list the figure as R$ 83.5 thousand [2, 5].
The conduct of the judge during the virtual hearing violated established judicial standards for professional behavior [3]. The case now moves through the disciplinary channels of the Brazilian judiciary to determine if further sanctions, or permanent removal from office, are necessary [1, 2].
“A Brazilian judge was suspended after he was caught drinking wine and smoking during a virtual court session”
This case highlights a tension in the Brazilian legal system between the immediate removal of officials for misconduct and the constitutional guarantees of salary during administrative probes. The disparity in reported salary figures also underscores the public interest in judicial transparency and the high cost of maintaining the judiciary's administrative processes.
