A judge was recorded drinking directly from a bottle of wine during a trial session, which took place on August 10, 2026. The hearing, held remotely, was interrupted as soon as the ingestion of the alcoholic beverage was noticed by the participants.
The images of the incident show Milton Lívio Lemos Salles, a 2nd degree assistant judge, consuming the wine. He was also seen lighting a cigarette with a torch and smoking during the session, while a woman walked behind him. The judge works in the 4th Center of Justice 4.0 Civil Family, belonging to the second instance of the Court of Justice of Minas Gerais (TJMG).
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After becoming aware of what happened, the TJMG announced that it requested an “immediate and rigorous” investigation. The court also reported that a process was opened to verify a possible functional lack with the General Inspectorate of Justice and the Special Body of the state Judiciary.
“The Court of Justice of Minas Gerais (TJMG), as soon as it learned of the facts, requested an immediate and rigorous investigation, with the opening of a procedure to possibly establish a functional lack with the General Inspectorate of Justice and the Special Body of the Minas Gerais State Judiciary”, the court detailed in a note.
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So far, no information has been obtained about whether the session has been rescheduled or whether another magistrate will replace Milton Lívio Lemos Salles. There was also no contact with the judge for comment on the case.
Norms and duties governing the conduct of judges
The Organic Law of the National Judiciary (LOMAN) imposes a series of duties that must be followed by all judges. Article 35, item VIII, for example, establishes that the magistrate must “maintain irreproachable conduct in public and private life”, a fundamental principle for trust in justice. The legislation also addresses other obligations linked to the fulfillment of official acts and professional performance.
Additionally, the National Council of Justice (CNJ) has specific guidelines for hearings and sessions held via videoconference. According to the CNJ resolution, these virtual meetings must follow standards of conduct and liturgy similar to those of in-person events, including appropriate attire. CNJ Resolution No. 465/2022, in fact, determines that magistrates must wear appropriate attire, such as a suit or gown, during videoconferences in the exercise of their duties.