Judge suspended and banned from courthouse after drinking wine and smoking during hearing
Judge Milton Lívio Lemos Sales was documented in shorts, smoking and drinking wine directly from the bottle during an online hearing. He was suspended from his position and banned from entering court premises, later claiming: 'They are slandering me'.
A judge in Brazil has been suspended from all his duties and banned from entering court premises or using their electronic systems, after he was documented drinking wine and smoking during an online legal hearing. The decision was made last week by Brazil's National Justice Inspector, and the matter is expected to be discussed at the plenary of the National Council of Justice (CNJ) on August 18, as reported by Estadão, one of Brazil's largest newspapers.
The judge in question is Milton Lívio Lemos Sales, who serves as an auxiliary judge in a unit of the Minas Gerais state court dealing with family law appeals. During an online hearing held on Monday, August 10, he was seen wearing shorts, smoking, and drinking directly from a wine bottle. The hearing was interrupted after participants noticed the alcohol consumption.
"Lacking self-control"
In the text of the decision, the National Justice Inspector described the judge as someone who is "lacking self-control and the capabilities required to perform his duties." According to him, the immediate removal was necessary to allow for the continued investigation of his conduct.
At the same time, the judicial system in the state of Minas Gerais also took steps against Sales. The state's Justice Inspector suspended him from his position, revoked his access to computer systems, and prohibited him from using the court's administrative and legal tools.
The order also prohibited the judge from using judicial system vehicles and instructed that the Federal Police and the military be notified that his right to carry and register weapons has been suspended for reasons of institutional security, according to the Brazilian news site Terra. The state order is temporary and will be forwarded to the special body of the Minas Gerais state court, which will decide whether to confirm the suspension, modify it, or cancel it.
"They are slandering me"
Following the incident, Sales published a video in which he introduced himself by name and mentioned his 36 years of tenure as a judge:
"My name is Milton Lívio Lemos Sales, I have been in the judicial system for 36 years, and I want to leave testimony about the slander they are conducting against me."
In the video, the judge also leveled corruption allegations, which were not proven, against the Superior Court of Justice, the Federal Supreme Court, Minister Alexandre de Moraes, and appellate judges in the state of Minas Gerais. He ended his remarks by saying: "If anyone wants to confront me - I am at their disposal. Thank you very much."
