Bahia judicial administration and conduct

The Court of Justice of the State of Bahia (TJBA) has implemented new administrative and social measures. The court established a cooperation workflow with the Federal Highway Police to improve the management and tracking of seized vehicles under judicial restriction.

In separate developments, the TJBA leadership addressed issues of institutional conduct. The President of the TJBA, Judge José Edivaldo Rocha Rotondano, issued a public apology to a Candomblé practitioner following the removal of her photograph from an exhibition. Rotondano affirmed that the Judiciary must act “without distinction regarding race, color, or religion.”

Subsequently, the National Council of Justice (CNJ) unanimously punished TJBA Judge Luiz Fernando Lima. The disciplinary action followed Lima’s decision to grant house arrest to Ednaldo Freire Ferreira, a founder of the ‘Bonde do Maluco’ criminal faction. While the judge cited the need to care for a son with autism, the CNJ determined there was no evidence Ferreira was the “sole or indispensable caregiver.” Lima received a two-year sentence of availability, which will be recorded in his functional files.