JUDICIAL CORRUPTION
LEGAL CONTEXT
The National Council of Justice (CNJ) is the constitutional body responsible for overseeing the administrative and disciplinary conduct of the Brazilian Judiciary, pursuant to Article 103-B of the Constitution of Brazil.(1)
LEGAL MEANING (technical summary)
This Article establishes that the CNJ has constitutional authority to:
• oversee judges
• discipline judges
• review judicial administrative acts
• investigate misconduct
• ensure legality and integrity of the Judiciary
Its decisions and proceedings directly affect judicial integrity, discipline, and institutional governance.
CNJ NEWS
Press release:
Removal of Judge Dirceu dos Santos from the TJMT (Court of Justice of Mato Grosso).
Post published:March 2, 2026
Post category:CNJ News / CNJ News Agency
The National Justice Inspectorate determined, this Monday (March 2nd), the immediate removal from office of magistrate Dirceu dos Santos, a judge member of the 3rd Private Law Chamber of the Court of Justice of Mato Grosso (TJMT).
Based on further investigations underway at this agency, evidence has been found suggesting that the judge in question issued rulings in exchange for undue advantages, acting as an intermediary in decision-making processes through third parties, including businesspeople and lawyers.
Furthermore, based on the breach of bank and tax secrecy, it was found that the magistrate presented a variation in assets at a level incompatible with his lawfully earned income, moving more than R$ 14,618,546.99 in assets in the last five years. A detailed analysis of his annual income tax returns indicated intense unexplained asset variation, notably in the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, a period contemporaneous with the investigated facts, and it is certain that, in the latter year alone, the difference between the increase in assets and his lawfully earned income reached R$ 1,913,478.48.
To date, due to the seriousness of the evidence identified against the judge, by order of the National Justice Ombudsman, Minister Mauro Campbell Marques, the defendant has been removed from his position, and investigations have been carried out at the headquarters of the Court of Justice of Mato Grosso, with the assistance of the Federal Police, to extract digital files and mirror electronic devices made available to the defendant and his office. At the same time, further investigations will be carried out to deepen the ongoing investigations.
The measure in question, of a precautionary nature, is proportionate to the seriousness of the allegations and aims to preserve the credibility of the judiciary, ensure the proper functioning of the justice system, and maintain public confidence in the judicial branch, without constituting a prior judgment of guilt, as it is in strict accordance with due process of law.
CNJ News Agency
Judge suspected of selling rulings, who moved R$ 14 million, is removed from office.
In addition to the removal from office, the CNJ authorized investigations at the TJ/MT (Court of Justice of Mato Grosso) with the assistance of the Federal Police to further the investigations.
Source : MIGALHAS
From the Newsroom
Monday, March 2, 2026
Updated at 2:54 PM
The CNJ (National Council of Justice) removed Judge Dirceu dos Santos from the 3rd Chamber of Private Law of the TJ/MT (Court of Justice of Mato Grosso) due to evidence suggesting he issued rulings through the possible sale of decisions and moved R$ 14.6 million in amounts incompatible with his income.
The measure was determined by the National Justice Ombudsman, Minister Mauro Campbell Marques, this Monday, the 2nd, to preserve the credibility of the judiciary and ensure the regular functioning of the Justice system.
The investigation, conducted by the National Justice Inspectorate, progressed based on further investigations already underway within the agency. Evidence was found suggesting that the judge had issued rulings with the involvement of third parties, including businesspeople and lawyers.
With the lifting of bank and tax secrecy, the investigation revealed a variation in assets incompatible with legally earned income. In the last five years, the judge moved more than R$ 14,618,546.99 in assets.
Analysis of annual income tax returns revealed significant unexplained asset variations, particularly in the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, a period contemporaneous with the events under investigation. In 2023 alone, the difference between asset growth and declared income reached R$ 1,913,478.48.
In ordering the precautionary removal from office, Mauro Campbell considered the seriousness of the evidence and the need for further investigation. He also authorized searches at the TJ/MT headquarters, with the assistance of the Federal Police, to extract digital files and mirror electronic devices made available to the office, in addition to other investigative measures.
The Inspector General's Office emphasized that the measure is proportionate to the seriousness of the allegations and does not constitute a premature judgment of guilt, as it observes due process of law.
With information from the CNJ (National Council of Justice).
3 APPELLATE JUDGES AND SIX JUDGES
Negotiating sentences, involvement in femicide, and disciplinary infractions: with Dirceu, the Court of Justice now has 9 judges removed from office.
March 2, 2026 - 11:30
From the Newsroom - Pedro Coutinho
Zampieri case
CNJ extends investigation and suspension of judge from the TJMT suspected of allegedly selling court rulings.
February 23, 2026 - 10:14 AM
From the Newsroom - Arthur Santos da Silva
Administrative disciplinary proceedings initiated against a judge from Mato Grosso investigated for selling court rulings.
Post published:August 5, 2025
Post category:CNJ News / CNJ News Agency
In a unanimous decision, the Plenary of the National Council of Justice (CNJ) determined the initiation of disciplinary administrative proceedings (PAD) against Judge João Ferreira Filho, of the Court of Justice of Mato Grosso (TJMT), who is the target of an investigation into an alleged scheme to sell court rulings. The decision was made during the 10th Ordinary Session of 2025, in response to Disciplinary Complaint 0003710-18.2024.2.00.0000, reported by the National Justice Ombudsman, Minister Campbell Marques.
The trial, held this Tuesday (August 5th), is related to the investigation of links maintained between the magistrate and the lawyer Roberto Zampieri, victim of homicide in December 2023, in Cuiabá. João Ferreira Filho is suspected of issuing judicial decisions in exchange for the systematic and repeated payment of undue advantages sponsored by the lawyer and other people.
The evidence is based primarily on the direct exchange of messages between the judge and Zampieri outside the official channels of the court where João worked. In this sense, the National Justice Ombudsman considered the argument that there was illegality in obtaining material extracted from the lawyer's cell phone to be unfounded, given that access occurred with the family's authorization.
Investigation
According to the rapporteur, the suspicion is based on at least five points. "Beyond the compromising dialogues seized from the lawyer's cell phone, indicating not only unusual closeness but also the unequivocal payment of undue advantages for the pronouncement of judicial decisions, expenses incompatible with the formally declared income were identified," Campbell Marques pointed out.
The minister indicated high credit card spending; the acquisition of real estate for amounts exceeding those declared on income tax returns; the existence of undeclared properties; and the receipt of undue benefits through his daughter and wife.
In addition to initiating the disciplinary proceedings, the decision upheld the precautionary removal of Ferreira Filho from his duties as a judge of the TJMT (Court of Justice of Mato Grosso), determined in August of last year. Council member Ulisses Rabaneda recused himself.
Follow the 10th Ordinary Session of 2025 on the CNJ channel on YouTube
Morning
Afternoon
Text: Jéssica Vasconcelos
Editing: Thaís Cieglinski
Review: Caroline Zanetti
CNJ News Agency
Tags : TJMT , Disciplinary Proceedings / PAD RD and RevDis , Ordinary Session , Mauro Luiz Campbell Marques
---
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JUSTICE (CNJ) – BRAZIL
SESSION TIMECODE INDEX AND CASE IDENTIFICATION
Institution: National Council of Justice (Conselho Nacional de Justiça – CNJ)
Session Type: Plenary Session (Livestream Broadcast)
Jurisdiction: Federative Republic of Brazil
Follow the 10th Ordinary Session of 2025 on the CNJ channel on YouTube
Morning
Note: The case numbers below follow the official numbering system of the Brazilian National Council of Justice (CNJ), which uniquely identifies administrative, disciplinary, and regulatory proceedings within the Brazilian Judiciary oversight framework.
The video is the 10th Ordinary Session of the National Council of Justice (CNJ), held on August 5, 2025, in the morning. The session addresses three main agenda items:
Request for Measures (Pedido de Providências) 0003764-47.2025.2.00.0000 (0:05:04–0:34:24): It concerns a request by the Attorney General’s Office of the Union (Advocacia-Geral da União) to suspend precatórios issued before the final and unappealable judgment (trânsito em julgado) of challenges to the enforcement of judgment (impugnações ao cumprimento de sentença). The reporting Justice, Minister Mauro Campo Bel Marques, granted the injunction to suspend the precatórios and extended the effects to all Federal Regional Courts (TRFs), submitting the decision to the plenary for ratification. The debate focuses on the regularity of the precatórios, especially those that contain undisputed portions (parcelas incontroversas). Councilor Ulisses Rabaneda highlights the need for clarity in the decisions to avoid undue cancellations of precatórios that have already become final and unappealable or that contain undisputed portions.
Disciplinary Complaint (Reclamação Disciplinar) 0003710-18.2024.2.00.0000 and Request for Measures (Pedido de Providência) 0003167-83.2022.2.00.0000 (0:34:24–1:29:36): The disciplinary complaint is opened against Appellate Judge João Ferreira Filho, of the Court of Justice of Mato Grosso (Tribunal de Justiça do Mato Grosso). The investigation, which arose from elements found in an inquiry into the homicide of a lawyer, points to the alleged issuance of judicial decisions in exchange for improper payments and to spending incompatible with formally declared income (1:10:54–1:10:57). Examples are presented of decisions favorable to attorneys’ interests, the acquisition of real estate at values far below market price, and the bank transactions of his daughter to pay bills and withdraw cash on his behalf (1:07:01). Councilor Ulisses Rabaneda declares himself barred/recused (impeded) from judging the case. Unanimously, the opening of a disciplinary administrative proceeding (processo administrativo disciplinar) was determined, as well as the maintenance of the precautionary removal of the appellate judge (1:14:09–1:14:26).
Normative Act (Ato Normativo) 0005474-05.2025.2.00.0000 (1:29:36–1:34:02): It proposes the standardization of the identification set of judges and councilors. Minister Mauro Campel praises the initiative and highlights the importance of regulation for judges’ activity, including the carrying of a personal defense firearm and the prerogative to request assistance from civil and military authorities in the exercise of their functions (1:33:06–1:33:20). The resolution is approved unanimously (1:33:38–1:33:41).
Afternoon
The video is the 10th Ordinary Session (0:00:00) of the National Council of Justice (CNJ), held on August 5, 2025.
The main points addressed include:
Launch of CriptoJud: (0:47–1:54) The National Council of Justice launched CriptoJud, a system that facilitates the enforcement of court orders related to cryptoassets. It centralizes official communications (formal requests) to cryptocurrency and digital-asset companies in a single electronic environment, speeding up the search for and seizure (attachment) of assets.
Discussion of Disciplinary Administrative Proceedings (PADs): Most of the session is dedicated to the analysis and voting on PADs involving judges. The councilors debate the application of penalties, such as availability and compulsory retirement, in cases of misconduct (7:16–1:15:31; 1:22:31–2:24:22).
Domestic Violence: A specific case of domestic violence committed by a judge is widely discussed, with Councilor Renata Gil and other councilors advocating the penalty of compulsory retirement (56:22–1:15:31). The seriousness of domestic violence is highlighted as a national problem.
Illegal Business Activities: Several PADs concern judges who carried out business activities without formal registration or in an unlawful manner, involving mining, security, construction, and even a hotel. Evidence of management and receipt of funds by the judges is discussed, resulting in recommendations for compulsory retirement (1:24:14–2:13:34).
Tax and Financial Crimes: In some cases, the judges’ conduct also constituted crimes against the financial system and the tax order, with omissions of income and irregular financial transactions (1:44:32–2:24:22).
Closing and Exhibition: The session ends with an invitation to the opening of the exhibition “Constituinte do Brasil Possível”, a project that celebrates free Black existence and “well-living,” conceived by Mariana Luía (2:31:04–2:43:11).
---
1 - ARTICLE 103-B
Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil
Art. 103-B. The National Council of Justice is composed of fifteen members with a two-year term of office, admitted one reappointment, as follows:
I – the President of the Supreme Federal Court;
II – one Justice of the Superior Court of Justice, indicated by that Court;
III – one Justice of the Superior Labor Court, indicated by that Court;
IV – one Judge of a State Court of Justice, indicated by the Supreme Federal Court;
V – one State judge, indicated by the Supreme Federal Court;
VI – one judge of a Regional Federal Court, indicated by the Superior Court of Justice;
VII – one federal judge, indicated by the Superior Court of Justice;
VIII – one judge of a Regional Labor Court, indicated by the Superior Labor Court;
IX – one labor judge, indicated by the Superior Labor Court;
X – one member of the Public Prosecution Office of the Union, indicated by the Attorney General of the Republic;
XI – one member of the State Public Prosecution Office, chosen by the Attorney General of the Republic from among the names indicated by the competent body of each state institution;
XII – two lawyers, indicated by the Federal Council of the Brazilian Bar Association;
XIII – two citizens of notable legal knowledge and unblemished reputation, one indicated by the Chamber of Deputies and one by the Federal Senate.
---
§1
The National Council of Justice shall be presided over by the President of the Supreme Federal Court, and, in his absence or impediment, by the Vice-President of the Supreme Federal Court.
---
§2
The other members of the Council shall be appointed by the President of the Republic, after approval by an absolute majority of the Federal Senate.
---
§3
The Council shall elect a Corregidor (Inspector-General) from among the members mentioned in items II to IX.
---
§4 – MOST IMPORTANT PART (Oversight Power)
§4. The National Council of Justice shall have authority to control the administrative and financial activities of the Judiciary and the performance of the functional duties of judges, and, in addition to other powers conferred by the Statute of the Judiciary, may:
I – ensure compliance with the Statute of the Judiciary and issue regulatory acts within its competence, or recommend measures;
II – ensure observance of Article 37 and examine, ex officio or upon request, the legality of administrative acts performed by members or bodies of the Judiciary;
III – receive and adjudicate complaints against members or bodies of the Judiciary;
IV – review, ex officio or upon request, disciplinary proceedings of judges and courts;
V – prepare semiannual and annual reports on its activities;
VI – prepare an annual report on the situation of the Judiciary in Brazil.
---
-
