Judge Attends Virtual Hearing While Playing Golf

Remember the California doctor who appeared for traffic court by video while performing surgery? Or the Florida judge who told lawyers to get out of bed and put on some clothes? Just when you thought you’d seen it all, there’s this gem from a conciliation court in Paraná, Brazil.

A recent video captures a moment during a virtual court hearing that has sparked both laughter and concern within the legal community. In it, the plaintiff appears not from an office or home, but from a golf course, wearing a polo shirt and hat. And not just idly watching - a few minutes into the hearing, he swings and hits the ball.

What makes the situation even more remarkable is that the plaintiff isn’t just any litigant; he’s a judge. That’s right - a sitting Brazilian judge filed the lawsuit and then attended his own hearing while playing golf.

The video has gone viral and is raising serious questions about decorum, professionalism, and the role of virtual hearings in Brazil’s judiciary. Critics argue it reflects poorly on the legal system and undermines public trust. Supporters of remote hearings, meanwhile, are left shaking their heads, hoping this is an exception, not the rule.

Virtual hearings were introduced as a way to modernize Brazil’s court system and keep things moving during the pandemic. Brazil is notorious for its extensive backlog of court cases. But incidents like this one remind us that with new tools come new responsibilities.

And maybe, just maybe, court hearings and golf games should remain separate after all.