Judge Marcus da Costa Ferreira, elected president of the Court of Justice of Goiás (TJGO) for the 2027/2029 biennium, states that he never imagined being in charge of the Goiás Judiciary. At the age of 12, he started working as a messenger at a notary's office in Anápolis, carrying documents and providing external services. Decades later, he was elected to occupy the main position at the institution where he began his professional life.
“Not even in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that this could happen,” he said in an interview with g1.
Born in Anápolis, Marcus said that, when he started working, he didn't know how far he could go. As a child, I viewed judges with admiration and considered that position something far from reality itself. "I was enchanted, in fact, when I saw the judge passing by. Boy, I saw that, I thought it was something unattainable", he reported.
As the years went by, the possibility of pursuing a career in the judiciary began to seem closer. He took a typing course, started working as a copyist and, later, as a scribe. He also studied law and prepared for the judicial exam.
Marcus said that he juggled working at the registry office with studying for the exam. At the time, he was already married and had three children. To be able to prepare, I studied early in the morning and also at night.
“The time I had to study there was from 3 am to 7 am and then I would go, work all day and work again from 7 pm until 10 am. I mean, I had time to sleep between 10 am and 3 am”, he stated.
Encouragement of studies
Preparation for the judiciary began while Marcus was still working at the registry office and studying law. To balance his activities, he studied early in the morning, from 3am to 7am, worked during the day and resumed his books from 7pm to 10pm. According to him, the routine left only five hours to sleep. At the time, he was already married and had three young children.
The judge said that he also had to pay for his own training. From high school onwards, he paid for school and then law school with money from work. During this period, he had the support of his wife, who accompanied him when he moved to another region and was one of the main supporters of his career. According to Marcus, she believed in his dream even more than he did.
Marcus also highlighted the importance of studies to transform realities and left a message for children and young people who want to change their lives.
"The greatest insubordination that the poor have against the system is studying. It is the only path that allows the person to revolt against the world and make things happen", he declared.
Path to presidency
At the age of 18, Marcus married his wife, who was 17. When he entered the judiciary, at the age of 23, he already had three children. His first destination as a judge was the district of São Domingos, in the Northeast of Goiás, on the border with Bahia and Tocantins. According to him, the city had no electricity and faced access difficulties, which made the start of his career challenging for the whole family.
After spending a year in São Domingos, Marcus was transferred to Piranhas. Afterwards, he worked in Padre Bernardo and Formosa, where he remained for around seven or eight years. Later, he returned to Anápolis, his hometown, where he also worked for approximately eight years.
He then went to Goiânia as a substitute judge in the second degree, a role in which he began to work directly at the Court of Justice. In 2018, he was promoted to judge. In 2025, he took over the General Inspectorate of Justice, a position he currently holds, before being elected president of the TJGO for the 2027/2029 biennium.
For his term as head of TJGO, Marcus said he intends to bring the Judiciary closer to the population, explain how the institution works and pay attention to people in vulnerable situations.
“My dream is to try to lead the Judiciary in the best way possible, bringing it closer to the population, showing people that we are not gods, we are not demigods, we are human beings”, he declared.
