# Mato Grosso judicial staffing & reforms 2026 > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-expands-its-judiciary-with-new-appointments-and-promotions > Updated: 2026-08-04T19:32:16.000Z. Sources: 49. Developments: 11. The Tribunal de Justiça de Mato Grosso (TJMT) kept advancing its staffing reforms throughout 2026. In May, the Regional Electoral Court of Mato Grosso (TRE‑MT) swore in Judge Eduardo Calmon de Almeida Cezar for the 2026‑2028 term. In early June the court honored the retirement of Justice Maria Erotides Kneip after 41 years, noting her role as the third woman on the bench, and announced candidacies for its president (José Luiz Leite Lindote) and vice‑president (Gilberto Giraldelli) ahead of an internal election in October that will also select ouvidoria members. Later in June, suspended judge Dirceu dos Santos took voluntary retirement, receiving full benefits despite an ongoing corruption probe (Operation Gemini). The vacancy created by Kneip’s departure triggered a merit‑based selection process that listed judges such as Agamenon Alcântara Moreno Júnior and others for evaluation under CNJ criteria. Governor Otaviano Pivetta appointed TJMT President José Zuquim Nogueira as interim governor for three days in mid‑June. In July the court swore in Agamenon Alcântara Moreno Júnior (merit) and Antonio Horácio da Silva Neto (seniority) as new desembargadores, filling the seats left by Kneip and Dirceu dos Santos. The judiciary also expanded its El Niño preparedness partnership with the state Civil Defense, continued a virtual conciliation mutirão with Energisa handling about 275 consumer complaints, and pursued a civil action to relocate prisoners from the overcrowded Tangará da Serra police station. The free “Pai Presente” programme was broadened to offer permanent, DNA‑tested multiparental and paternity recognition through the CEJUSC network. Finally, on 4 August Judge Eduardo Henrique Minosso became the first magistrate appointed to TJMT through a bilateral exchange, marking a new staffing mechanism under CNJ resolutions. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-04: Judge Eduardo Henrique Minosso Becomes First Bilateral Exchange Magistrate in Mato Grosso Judge Eduardo Henrique Minosso was sworn in as the first magistrate to join Mato Grosso’s Court of Justice through a bilateral exchange, marking a historic judicial innovation. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/judge-eduardo-henrique-minosso-becomes-first-bilateral-exchange-magistrate-in-mato-grosso ### 2026-07-27: Mato Grosso Court appoints two new appellate judges amid retirements Mato Grosso's state court appointed Agamenon Alcântar and Antonio Horácio as new appellate judges, filling two vacancies, while another seat opened after Sérgio Valério's mandatory retirement. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mato-grosso-court-appoints-two-new-appellate-judges-amid-retirements ### 2026-07-23: New Desembargadores Agamenon Alcântara Moreno and Antonio Horácio Sworn in at Mato Grosso Court TJMT elected Agamenon Alcântara Moreno (merit) and Antonio Horácio (seniority) as new desmbargadores; they were sworn in on 24 July, pledging judicial independence, while Horácio noted his comeback after a past 18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mato-grosso-court-appoints-two-new-judges-as-veteran-justice-retires ### 2026-07-20: Mato Grosso Judiciary Expands Multiparental and Paternity Recognition Mato Grosso judges highlight legal multiparental rights and the state's permanent, free paternity‑recognition program, offering DNA testing and civil‑registry registration for biological and socio‑affective f(​ 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mato-grosso-judiciary-expands-multiparental-and-paternity-recognition ### 2026-06-30: Mato Grosso judiciary expands collaboration on El Niño, mediation and prison reforms Mato Grosso’s judiciary partners with civil defense on El Niño readiness, launches an online mediation drive with Energisa, adopts new judge‑training rules, while the state Defensoria seeks prison transfers and 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mato-grosso-adopts-new-judge-tenure-model-expanding-preceptor-duties ### 2026-06-16: Governor Otaviano Pivetta names Judge José Zuquim Nogueira interim governor of Mato Grosso Governor Otaviano Pivetta handed the Mato Grosso governorship to Judge José Zuquim Nogueira on 16 June, who will serve as interim governor until 19 June while Pivetta attends his father's birthday. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mato-grosso-governor-pivetta-hands-power-to-court-president-announces-r221m-infrastructure-plan ### 2026-06-15: Judge Dirceu dos Santos Retires with Full Pension Amid Corruption Probe Mato Grosso judge Dirceu dos Santos receives full‑pension retirement despite a corruption probe and Federal Police investigation into alleged judicial‑sale schemes. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/retired-mato-grosso-do-sul-judge-jos-augusto-de-souza-passes-away ### 2026-06-07: Brazilian state courts hold key judicial elections and hearings Brazil's TRE‑MS will hear cases on voter transport, gender‑quota fraud and party fund misuse, while the TJMT prepares October elections for ouvidoria posts and court leadership. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazilian-state-courts-hold-key-judicial-elections-and-hearings ### 2026-06-03: Mato Grosso judge Maria Erotides Kneip retires, opening court vacancy Judge Maria Erotides Kneip of Mato Grosso retired at 75, triggering a merit‑based competition to fill the state court seat under CNJ rules. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mato-grosso-judge-maria-erotides-kneip-retires-opening-court-vacancy ### 2026-06-02: Mato Grosso Court honors retiring judge and names new presidential candidates Mato Grosso’s highest court honored retiring Justice Maria Kneip and officially listed sole candidates for president (José Lindote) and vice‑president (Gilberto Giraldelli), with elections set for 8 Oct. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mato-grosso-court-honors-retiring-judge-and-names-new-presidential-candidates ### 2026-05-19: Brazilian courts appoint dozens of judges to new positions Brazilian courts installed 32 Rio de Janeiro judges and appointed a new electoral judge in Mato Grosso on May 18. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazilian-courts-appoint-dozens-of-judges-to-new-positions --- Cite as: Mato Grosso judicial staffing & reforms 2026. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-expands-its-judiciary-with-new-appointments-and-promotions