Mato Grosso judge Maria Erotides Kneip retires, opening court vacancy

The Tribunal de Justiça do Mato Grosso (TJMT) officially recorded the retirement of senior judge Maria Erotides Kneip on 2 May. Kneip, who turns 75 on 4 May, reached the statutory age limit after more than four decades of service, during which she was noted for advocacy on women’s rights and gender‑based violence.

Her departure creates a vacancy on the state’s second‑instance court. The TJMT president will issue a competition notice, and candidates will be evaluated on merit and seniority according to the Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ) rules. Eligibility requires at least two years as a judge, placement in the top fifth of the seniority list, no undue case delays and no recent disciplinary sanctions. A mixed list of judges and magistrates will be scored on productivity, technical improvement and ethical conduct. Potential candidates mentioned include judges Agamenon Alcântara Moreno Júnior, Eulice Jaqueline da Costa Silva Cherulli, Christiane da Costa Marques Neves, Tatiane Colombo, Tulio Duailibi Alves Souza and Wanderley Dias Reis. The vacancy will also be subject to gender‑alternation rules established by CNJ resolution 525/2023.

The retirement was marked by a ceremony at the Palácio da Justiça, where Kneip affirmed she will continue to pursue her ideals of justice beyond formal service.