Introduction to Law 1

st
Sem
2014-2014
Reflection Paper
COURT ISIT
(Regional Trial Court Branch 4, Manila & Branch 103 & 96, Quezon City)
Dressed up in corporate attire with the letter-request, available copy
of Certificate of Appearance and an eagerness to witness the real court
proceeding, I made sure I will arrived on time. When I reached the City
all, I was surprised by the court room itself. It was not that big. !here
were at least three to four rows of bench where the first row seems
reserved for the counsels and followed by the parties to the case. I sat on
the bac" portion along with other guest or observers. !he presiding #udges
both for the Civil and Criminal proceedings were not that old too #ust li"e
what I usually saw in movies. !he accused parties were on chain and
mas" which I failed to provide answer on my curiosity.
!he trial did not started on time. !he proceedings started with the
cler" of court called for the presence of both parties involved in the cases
tried that day. !here was no microphone available inside so I can hardly
understand what they were saying. !he setting inside the court room while
the proceeding was conducted seems boring to me. !hat led me to as" for
the copy of my certificate of appearance and e$cused myself to leave.
%eing not satisfied with what I witnessed, I decided to try and loo"ed
for another branch. !he environment was quite better at the &egional !rial
Court of 'ue(on City, %ranch )* with on. Afable +. Ca#igal as the
presiding #udge, where I observed the hearing of Civil Cases. I admired
how the counsels e$changed their arguments. Witness was guided to sit
on the chair inside the bar, ad#acent to the right corner before the ,udge,
where she was sub#ected to cross e$amination. -he was as"ed and most
of the time the witness answered indirectly and added answers no longer
relevant to the questions, which causes the counsel for the defendant to
raised his voice. After counsels for both parties presented and informed
the court with matters related to the case, counsels for both parties agreed
on the schedule of ne$t hearing which were both available to them
including the ,udge himself.
As a first year student who is #ust starting to embrace the concept of
.aw in its general and strict sense, I honestly didn/t appreciate the court
visit yet as a requirement in the sub#ect. With what I observed how the trial
was conducted or done, I was not satisfied with it as compared with the
"ind of proceedings I have in mind 0such as those from the movies 1 A 2ew
3ood 4an, 4y Cousin 5inny, .egally %londe and !he 2irm6, e$cept maybe
for the one branch under ,udge Ca#igal.
As a future lawyer and a guardian of #ustice, it gave me a glimpse of
the legal system in the country. !he environment, the parties and the
proceeding itself. !hus, loo"ing forward for a possible change of
improvement in the current system where i could be part of it.