Judge Wellington Magalhães, of the Court of the District of Cristalândia, and Justice Ângela Prudente, Vice-President of the Court of Justice of the State of Tocantins (TJTO), won second and third place, respectively, in the José Maria da Silva Júnior Environmental Jurisprudence Award.
The award, promoted by the Brazilian Association of Members of the Public Prosecution for the Environment (Abrampa), recognizes and values ministerial actions and their respective judgments and rulings by high courts that have great relevance to environmental protection.
Awards
First place went to the ruling in the Direct Action for Unconstitutionality (0804739-62.2021.8.22.0000/RO), filed by Ivanildo de Oliveira, the General Attorney of the State Prosecution of the State of Rondônia, with Justice José Jorge Ribeiro da Luz reporting.
Second place was awarded to Judge Wellington Magalhães in recognition of the sentence handed down in the context of the Public Civil Action (0001070-72.2016.8.27.2715/TO), filed by the State Prosecution of the State of Tocantins, with a request for the immediate suspension of all licenses, permits and authorizations to use water resources for agribusiness purposes and on a scale of more than 500 hectares of surface irrigated area of the Urubu and Formoso rivers in the municipalities of Lagoa da Confusão and Cristalândia.
Third place was awarded to Justice Ângela Prudente for the ruling issued as a result of the Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (0002692-27.2022.8.27.2700/TO), filed by the Office of the General Attorney of the State of Tocantins, defending the unconstitutionality of provisions on environmental licensing in the State, with the Justice reporting.
Socio-environmental Justice
"This award that I am honored to receive surpasses the visibility of my work in favor of protecting the environment, as it reinforces the legacy left by Dr. José Maria da Silva Júnior and our sense of responsibility for socio-environmental justice, while inspiring us to continue working to protect and preserve our natural resources for present and future generations," said the Justice, who also chairs the Management Committee of the Sustainable Logistics Plan of the TJTO (PLS).
"May the José Maria da Silva Júnior Environmental Jurisprudence Award continue to inspire and motivate other legal professionals to follow the path of environmental defense and sustainability, recognizing the crucial importance of these issues in our society," said the judge, thanking the Brazilian Association of Members of the Public Prosecution for the Environment (Abrampa) for the recognition.
For Judge Wellington Magalhães, "this award is a collective achievement, fruit of the teamwork, where everyone involved has committed themselves to the principles of sustainability, social and economic development with respect for the environment."
Posthumous Tribute
The award is a posthumous tribute to the Prosecutor of the State Prosecution of the State of Tocantins (MPTO), José Maria da Silva Júnior, who served as Vice-President of Abrampa.
The selection criteria used to choose the winners were the rationale of the judicial decision or ruling in terms of protecting the environment; the complexity of the subject of the claim; the impact of the decision on socio-environmental defense; and the implementation of national and international standards that address environmental issues.
The winners will be awarded during the 22nd edition of the Brazilian Congress of Environmental Public Prosecutors, which will take place from April 24th to 26th in Belém (PA).
