Maranhão Court removes police delegate appointed despite low ranking

The Court of Justice of Maranhão (TJMA) has unanimously overturned a judicial decision that allowed Ariana Sampaio Souza to hold the position of civil police delegate. The ruling follows an appeal by the Maranhão State Government.

Souza, the daughter of a state prosecutor, had originally been disqualified during a 2017 civil police competition. Although she achieved the minimum required score of 60 points on the objective exam, her ranking of 2,018th fell far short of the 225-candidate limit established for the discursive exam stage.

After seeking legal recourse, Souza obtained a provisional court order that allowed her to participate in the police academy training course and eventually take office on May 12, 2025. However, the TJMA's First Chamber of Public Law concluded that she did not meet the necessary requirements to advance in the selection process, effectively removing her from the post.