UST PRE-WEEK NOTES 2011

JUSTICE ABAD CASES

LEGAL AND JUDICIAL ETHICS

From the circumstances, the judges acts were motivated by malice. He was not a warehouseman for personal properties of litigants in his court. He certainly would have kept Spelmans properties had the latter not filed a complaint against him. He was guilty of covetousness. It affected the performance of his duties as an officer of the court and tainted the judiciarys integrity. He should be punishe d accordingly. [SPELMANS v. JUDGE OCAMPO, A.M. No. MTJ-07-1663, 26 March 2010, SECOND DIVISION, (ABAD J.)]

Though a lawyers language may be forceful and emphatic, it should always be dignified and respectful, befitting the dignity of the legal profession. The use of intemperate language and unkind ascriptions has no place in the dignity of judicial forum. Atty. Ferrer ought to have realized that this sort of public behavior can only bring down the legal profession in the public estimation and erode public respect for it. Whatever moral righteousness Atty. Ferrer had, was negated by the way he chose to express his indignation. [ ATTY. BARANDON, JR. v. ATTY, FERRER, SR., A.C. No. 5768, 26 March 2010, SECOND DIVISION, (ABAD, J.)]

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2011 ACADEMICS COMMITTEE