Judge Ludmila Lins Grilo says her bank accounts were blocked

Banned from social media in Brazil by order of the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), Alexandre de Moraes, and compulsorily retired from the bench, judge Ludmila Lins Grilo reported that her bank accounts were blocked.

The information was given during a live broadcast on the judge’s YouTube channel, this Friday (9). The channel can only be accessed in Brazil through the virtual private network service or virtual private network (VPN, in English). Ludmila said that she has not yet had access to the decision.

“Even if I lose everything, I don’t want to be left out […] I don’t regret anything I did, I would do it all over again, I would go into exile, I would lose my salary, I don’t care. Gotta do what’s right, which is what I’m doing here […] You can count on me. In fact, I’m going to give you some first-hand news: my bank accounts have been blocked. So, nowadays I don’t even have my pension anymore”, said the judge.

On the occasion, the judge highlighted the importance of financial contributions to persecuted and exiled people due to criticism of the Brazilian Judiciary, especially the STF. In addition to the judge, other Brazilians, such as journalists Allan dos Santos and Paulo Figueiredo, chose the United States as their destination after being forced to leave Brazil due to decisions by the STF.

In the live broadcast, the judge commented on the operation that targeted former president Jair Bolsonaro and allies this week and said that she will use the channel to comment on “unfair decisions”. Ludmila also recalled that the channel can only be accessed in Brazil via VPN.

“Anyone who doesn’t have a VPN is on Alexandre de Moraes’ intranet. Those who do not have a VPN are limited to only seeing what Alexandre de Moraes wants you to see”, stated the judge.

Ludmila also demanded a reaction from law professors who, according to the judge, have a moral duty to warn about abuses committed by members of the Brazilian Judiciary.

“If you have something to say and remain silent, you are being complicit. And if you remain silent, having a place to speak, being a law professor, being recognized in society as a person who can speak on that subject and you remain silent, you are an accomplice. It’s regrettable and I speak with pain in my heart, many of my friends, including those who are teachers, are silent. These people are accomplices, these people are cowards. And I will say from the bottom of my heart: they are almost all of them, almost 100%”, said the judge.

Ludmila also said that in many aspects the “regime” established in Brazil has already exceeded limits established even by the Venezuelan dictatorship. According to the judge, Brazil can now be equated with the communist regime in China.

Ludmila was “cancelled” for criticizing the STF and for being friends with Allan dos Santos

In May of this year, the Court of Justice of Minas Gerais (TJMG) decreed the compulsory retirement of Ludmila Grilo, who worked as a judge at the Criminal and Children and Youth Courts of the district of Unaí.

The decision was made as a result of cases that the judge was responding to at the National Council of Justice (CNJ).

Ludmila became the target of the CNJ for making critical analyzes of STF decisions in internet publications and in closed classes; for participating in conservative events; and for being friends with the exiled journalist, Allan dos Santos.

According to the CNJ’s inspector, minister Luis Felipe Salomão, “in addition to appearing to be disrespectful to the Supreme Court’s order”, the judge’s actions could “constitute crimes typified in the Penal Code” for allegedly violating “functional duties inherent to the judiciary, notably the to maintain irreproachable conduct in public and private life.”