Brazilian judges face harassment investigations

Judge João Filho de Almeida Portela is accused of sexually assaulting a court employee in Campo Grande, with audio recordings and a notarized statement confirming that he forced the employee to touch his genitals during a request for water. The allegation adds to previous complaints against the magistrate and has prompted calls for disciplinary action by the Public Ministry and the National Council of Justice.

Separately, the Corregedoria‑Geral da Justiça of the Tribunal de Justiça da Bahia opened a formal sindicância to investigate a different magistrate for moral harassment, interference with medical leaves, irregular personnel management and alleged favoritism in the distribution of judicial mandates. The investigation, ordered by Corregedor‑Geral Desembargador Emílio Salomão Resedá, is being led by Judge Marcos Adriano Silva Ledo with a 40‑day deadline for a final report. Both cases underscore growing concerns over misconduct within Brazil’s judiciary and the response of internal oversight bodies.