Mato Grosso magistrates convene at 42nd Gemam to address youth drug challenges

The 42nd meeting of the Grupo de Estudos da Magistratura de Mato Grosso (Gemam) was held on 19 June at the Tribunal do Júri in Rondonópolis. Opened by Desembargador Márcio Vidal, director of the Escola Superior da Magistratura de Mato Grosso, the event gathered judges to discuss pressing social issues, focusing on the growing problem of drug use among young people and the proposal of compulsory hospitalization for at‑risk youth.

Speakers highlighted the need for continuous judicial education to keep pace with societal and technological changes. Judge auxiliary Jorge Alexandre Martins Ferreira stressed the importance of judges staying updated, while Judge Alethea Assunção Santos emphasized that the group’s collective academic work produces guidance for more reliable decisions. Psychiatrist Diego de Souza Vacari presented a medical perspective on drug harms, underscoring the value of interdisciplinary dialogue between health and justice. The gathering was praised by Judge Aline Bissoni for its relevance to the judiciary’s development and its potential to improve the quality of rulings for the public.