Judge Suspended for Drinking Wine and Smoking in Online Hearing Keeps Salary
Listen to the story
A judge in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais has been suspended after he was seen drinking wine and smoking during a virtual court hearing.
The incident happened during an online session, a type of meeting used by courts to hear cases.
After officials saw his behavior, the judge was removed from his duties for a period of time.
Despite the suspension, he will keep receiving his full monthly salary of R$83,500, which is about 83,500 reais.
Local authorities in Minas Gerais decided not to stop his pay while the case is being reviewed.
The decision has raised questions about how the justice system handles cases of unusual behavior by public officials.
Judges in Brazil often earn high salaries, and this case has drawn public attention because of the amount involved.
It is not yet clear how long the suspension will last or what further measures the courts may take.
The story has been widely shared, with many people commenting on the judge's actions during the hearing.
Officials have not given more details about what will happen next in this case.
Vocabulary10 words
- suspended
- stopped from working for some time
- session
- a meeting, often for work or court
- salary
- money paid every month for a job
- reais
- the money used in Brazil
- authorities
- people in charge of official decisions
- justice
- the system of laws and courts
- measures
- actions taken to deal with a problem
- incident
- an event, often unusual or bad
- duties
- the jobs a person must do
- review
- to look at something again carefully
Quiz
Answer key
1. He drank wine and smoked 2. He continues to receive it in full 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A judge in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais has been _____ after he was seen drinking wine and smoking during a virtual court hearing.
The incident happened during an online _____, a type of meeting used by courts to hear cases.
After officials saw his behavior, the judge was removed from his _____ for a period of time.
Despite the suspension, he will keep receiving his full monthly _____ of R$83,500.
Local _____ in Minas Gerais decided not to stop his pay while the case is being reviewed.
The decision has raised questions about how the _____ system handles cases of unusual behavior.
It is not yet clear how long the suspension will last or what further _____ the courts may take.
The story has been widely shared, with many people commenting on the judge's actions during the _____.
Discussion questions
- Do you think the judge should keep receiving his salary during the suspension? Why or why not?
- How should courts respond when officials behave badly during virtual work sessions?
- Do you think virtual meetings make it easier for people to act inappropriately? Why?
- What consequences do you think are fair for someone in a position of authority who breaks professional standards?