The ugly face of Brazilian censorship does not even stop at judges

Brazilian National Justice Inspector, Luís Felipe Salomão, ordered the suspension of profiles on the social networks of judge Maria do Carmo Cardoso, of the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (TRF1), due to posts in support of alleged “anti-democratic acts”.

According to the National Council of Justice (CNJ), Salomão took this stance after the press published the releases.

The magistrate also ordered the opening of a disciplinary complaint against the magistrate.

Three days ago, the judge shared on her Twitter and Instagram profiles a message with a green background and the Brazilian flag with the following text: “We’ll see the World Cup later, 99% of Brazil’s players live in Europe, the coach is from the PT and Globolixo is from the left, our real team is in front of the barracks.”

According to the CNJ, the order to suspend the content published on the magistrate’s social networks was based on the body’s Internal Regulations and the Civil Rights Framework for the Internet.

“There is urgency in blocking content, including to prevent new administrative or electoral offenses by the magistrate now claimed”, argued Salomão.

The magistrate also said that it is “necessary to maintain institutional and social harmony until the date of inauguration [of president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]” and that “the conduct of the federal judge follows in the opposite direction, which is expressly prohibited in in the case of active magistrates”.

In a note, the CNJ stressed that the Constitution prohibits party-political activity by magistrates. The Judiciary’s Code of Ethics also prohibits party-political activities. In 2019, the body itself regulated the use of social networks, prohibiting judges from “manifesting in public support or criticism of a candidate, political leaders or political parties”.

Judge Maria do Carmo Cardoso must be summoned to respond within 15 days to the opening of a disciplinary complaint.

With information from Gazeta Brasil

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