The national inspector of justice, Luís Felipe Salomão, decided to remove judge Gabriela Hardt and two judges who worked in the Lava Jato cases from their positions in the Federal Court. The decision was taken after an investigation by the National Council of Justice (CNJ) in the 13th Federal Court of Curitiba, the same one where the court cases passed. operation.
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Hardt’s removal has to do with the case of the founding of Lava Jato. The entity was created by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) to receive resources related to the operation – which would be illegal.
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The two dismissed judges are Thompson Flores and Loraci Flores de Lima, who worked at the Federal Regional Court of the 4th Region (TRF-4) at the time of Lava Jato. Danilo Pereira Júnior, current holder of the 13th Court of Curitiba, was also removed.
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The correction from the 13th Court also cited former judge and now senator Sergio Moro. As he no longer works in the Judiciary, there was no dismissal. His involvement in the case, however, will also still be analyzed by the CNJ plenary.
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According to Salomão, the investigation at the 13th Court of Curitiba – treated as a correction by the CNJ – “identified several irregularities and illegalities that occurred in the workflows developed during various investigations and criminal actions that made up what was called ‘Operation Lava Jato’, especially with regard to control and accountability mechanisms.”
He stated that, with regard to Hardt, she may have even committed crimes, which justifies her prior removal until her conduct is judged by the council. “The acts attributed to judge Gabriela Hardt, in addition to falling, in theory, as criminal types – embezzlement-embezzlement, with possible interdependent criminal ramifications, malfeasance, privileged corruption or passive corruption –, also conform to serious administrative infractions, constituting strong evidence of disciplinary offenses and violations of the magistrate’s functional duties.”
Regarding Flores, Lima and Pereira Júnior, the Justice inspector points out that they disrespected decisions of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) in processes that culminated in the removal of judge Eduardo Appio, the judge who took over Lava Jato.
O Brazil in fact asked for positions from the Federal Court of Paraná, where the 13th Criminal Court is located, and from the TRF-4 regarding the removal of the magistrates. The TRF-4 reported this afternoon that it was notified by the CNJ and the decision is being complied with. The Federal Court, in turn, did not respond. If they take a position, the article will be updated.
Editing: Thalita Pires