The future of Justice in the state of Tocantins has already begun. And it goes through intelligence, innovation and especially education. It was in this spirit that the Superior School of the Judges of the State of Tocantins (Esmat) inaugurated, on Thursday afternoon (September 4th), the Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence of Esmat (LIIARES).
Located on the second floor of the School, the space was created with the purpose of boosting applied scientific research, technological innovation and the continuous training of magistrates, civil servers and Justice professionals, through Artificial Intelligence.
As a result of the commitment of Justice Marco Villas Boas, general director of ESMAT and president of the Permanent College of Directors of State Schools of the Magistracy (Copedem), the Laboratory is the first of its kind institutionalized within a Judicial School in Brazil.
It is a collective construction, fruit of the partnership among Esmat, Court of Justice of the State of Tocantins (TJTO), Federal University of the state of Tocantins (UFT) and University of the state of São Paulo (USP), consolidating a pioneering and strategic initiative for the development of the national Justice System. The administrative and financial management of the project is done by the Scientific and Technological Support Foundation of the state of Tocantins (Fapto).
A space for research and transformation
LIIARES will be an environment for fostering scientific production, data governance and the creation of technological solutions that qualify judicial provision. Its focus is on the practical application of AI in areas such as public management, judicial education, data analysis and evidence-based institutional policy making.
Among its objectives, published in June this year in the Resolution n° 44 of 2025, are the encouragement of interdisciplinarity, the formation of research networks and the integration of technical and legal knowledge aimed at the common good.
By declaring officially inaugurated the space, Justice Marco Villas Boas celebrated the moment as a historic achievement not only for the School, but also for the whole of the state of Tocantins.
“It is a privilege to receive, on this bright afternoon, people so committed to knowledge and justice, to open a space that promises to contribute to technical and scientific development. This Laboratory is a firm step towards the digital transformation and the strengthening of institutions, based on research that will directly benefit society and the performance of the Judiciary", he said.
The Justice also highlighted that the initiative has a great potential to boost the Master’s and PhD courses in Governance and Digital Transformation (PPGGTD) of the School, promoted in partnership with UFT, strengthening local scientific production and broadening the perspectives of innovation in public service.
Representing Justice Maysa Vendramini Rosal, president of the TJTO, the assistant judge of the Presidency, Esmar Custódio Vêncio Filho, transmitted the message of the magistrate:
“Today we take a historic step in the integration among technology, education and justice. LIIARES reflects the commitment of Esmat on promoting a culture of responsible innovation and the continuous improvement of public management and judicial accountability", he said.
LIIARES journal
To further strengthen the role of research in the legal ecosystem, Esmat also launched LIIARES Journal - Innovation and Research at the Service of Justice. The journal is born as a strategic channel of scientific dissemination, aimed at connecting innovation, knowledge and practice in the field of Artificial Intelligence applied to Justice.
The Journal receives article submissions, from September 9th, next Tuesday, to its 1st edition, with topics that include: Responsible Automation in the Judiciary, AI Regulation, Ethics and Data Security, Use of AI in Public Policies and Solutions for Sustainability and Decarbonization. Researchers, magistrates, civil servers, students and interested professionals may check the full call with more information later.
Strategic partnerships
Representatives of the Judiciary, Academy, Law, municipal public sector and Schools of the Judges from various States were present at the inauguration, demonstrating the scope and prestige of the initiative. Among the names:
Justice Lídio Modesto da Silva Filho (Superior School of the Judges of the state of Mato Grosso (Esmagis-MT)); Judge Felipe Damous (Superior School of the Judges of the State of Maranhão (Esmam-MA)); Judge Wellington Magalhães (2nd Deputy Director of Esmat); Doctor Renato de Oliveira, General Attorney of the Municipality of Palmas, representing mayor Eduardo Siqueira Campos; Doctor Professor Marcelo Leineker (UFT), representing dean Professor Luís Eduardo Bovolato; Doctor Flávia Malachias (ESA (Superior School of Law )/BAR-TO); Professors Doctors Ana Carla Bliacheriene, Luciano Vieira de Araújo and David Nadler (USP (University of the state of São Paulo) and UFT (Federal University of the state of Tocantins); Professor Doutor Humberto Xavier de Araújo (PPGGTD/UFT (Postgraduate Program in Governance and Digital Transformation of the Federal University of the state of Tocantins); Ronei Dutra and Elionai Magalhães (School of the Judges of the state of Espírito Santo (EMES)); Representatives of Inovassol (Innovation Center of the Judiciary of the state of Tocantins), the technician team of Esmat and the Directorate of Information Technology of the TJTO.
Check out the Ordinance n° 29, of 2025 with the list of the LIIARES Manager Committee.
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