'CNJ is conducting a witch hunt,' says the suspended president of the Court of Justice.
The statement comes from the suspended president of the Court of Justice of Bahia (TJ-BA), Judge Mário Alberto Hirs: "The CNJ cannot be used as a cleaver to cut the throats of people who have done nothing wrong. They cannot make mistakes at this level. We have no blemishes, our name is protected"; Hirs and his predecessor, Telma Britto, were removed from their positions due to irregularities found by the CNJ, including the improper payment of court-ordered debts; the hole in the state coffers is estimated at R$ 448 million.
Bahia 247 - The suspended judges of the Court of Justice of Bahia (TJ-BA), Mário Alberto Hirs and Telma Brito, continue to say that the National Council of Justice (CNJ) is overstepping its bounds regarding the court, especially with the internal proceedings opened against them for irregularities, such as the improper payment of court-ordered debts.
In an article in the Folha de São Paulo newspaper, they say that the council acted in the name of "a thirst for punishment and a witch hunt" in the trial of the case.
"The CNJ cannot be used as a cleaver to cut the throats of people who have done nothing wrong. They cannot make mistakes at this level. We have no blemishes, our name is protected," said Mário Alberto Hirs, who was removed from the presidency of the TJ-BA two weeks ago.
He claims he has already received more than 300 expressions of solidarity. "The magistrates are afraid in the face of the CNJ. The Brazilian judge is corrupted." According to the CNJ, irregularities in spending on court-ordered payments amount to R$ 448 million.
The judges, however, deny any misconduct and say they trust in the Justice system to reverse the situation. On Thursday (14), Mário Hirs and Telma Brito, his predecessor, filed a writ of mandamus with the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to suspend, on a preliminary basis, the removal from the TJ-BA. The case should be assigned today.
Defender
The judges deny alleged irregularities in the payment of court-ordered debts and claim that, as presidents of the court, it is not their place to question decisions that have already become final.
The judges cite decisions issued by the STJ (Superior Court of Justice) by Minister Eliana Calmon (former inspector of the CNJ) which state that it is not possible to alter the payment order once the decision has been established. "To say that we were negligent is to disregard all jurisprudence and doctrine," says Hirs.
Both also refute accusations of irregular contracts with financial institutions and claim that the partnerships with the banks --which involve exclusive management of the court's payroll-- were established in previous administrations.
They also refute the claim that the TJ-BA (Court of Justice of Bahia) is the worst court in the country and say that there is persecution by the CNJ (National Council of Justice). "They said it was a pedagogical decision, but I doubt there will be another [similar one]. I'd like to see it," says Hirs.