THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF THE JUDICIARY

MANUEL M. LAZARO

A Judge, being a lawyer in the first place, is bounded to the promises

he swore before God, the Court and the people. These promises are
specifically enumerated in the Ten Commandments of the Judiciary.

The TEN COMMANDMENTS of the Judiciary by Manuel M. Lazaro1

The following are the DOs and DONTs of the Judiciary, to wit:

1. THOU SHALT KEEP FAITH IN DIVINE PROVIDENCE, THE

FOUNTAIN SOURCE OF ALL TRUTH, WISDOM AND JUSTICE;
- A prayerful Judge is a reliable Judge. Thus, to effectively dispense
truth, wisdom and justice, the Judge must have faith in the Divine
Providence.

2. THOU SHALT UPHOLD AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND

THE LAWS OF THE LAND, AND RESPECT THE DULY
CONSTITUTED AUTHORITIES;
- Respect for the rule of law is an indispensable trait of a judge and
respect for authority is an inescapable feature of the rule of law.
Judge is the visible representation of law and justice2, and it is
incumbent upon him to uphold and defend the fundamental law
and the statutes that he represents.

3. THOU SHALT BE HONEST AND UPRIGHT IN THE CONDUCT OF

THY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIFE;
- A Judge must not only be honest but also appear to be honest. His
behavior, not only in the bench and in the performance but also in
his everyday life, should be beyond reproach. This is part of the
strong moral fiber that the Judge should have, to be able to resist
all the temptations that may come in the way of deciding cases.

4. THOU SHALT DISPENSE JUSTICE WITH COMPETENCE AND

IMPARTIALITY;
- A Judge is a minister of Justice. Judge must do everything for
justice, nothing for himself, nothing for his patron. 3
- A Judge is of course, human but is expected to rise above human
frailties. At the very least, there must be earnest and sincere effort
on his part to do so.4

1
Speech delivered at the IBP 1st Regional Convention, 19 November 1983
2
Dela Paz v. Inatan, 64 SCRA 540
3
Professional Ideas of the Lawyer, p. 54
4
Conde v Superable, 29 SCRA 727
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF THE JUDICIARY
MANUEL M. LAZARO
- Judges should not only be impartial, but should also appear
impartial.5

5. THOU SHALT CREATE AN AURA OF DIGNITY AND HONOR AND

POSSESSED OF MORAL COURAGE WITH HUMILITY,
PUNCTUALITY AND COURTESY;
- Judge must be humble but firm, relentless but prudent. His
presence should exude confidence, evoke fear to do wrong and
instill courage to tell the truth. He must perform his duty without
fear or favor.
- Judge must be gifted with a predisposition to do right and never
wrong, to administer justice and never injustice.
- Judge must be punctual, must be courteous.

6. THOU SHALT NOT DELAY ANY MANS CAUSE;

Justice delayed is justice denied
- Judge should prompt in disposing all matters submitted to him.
- Judge must judiciously apportion the courts time to achieve
speedy dispatch of cases, consistent with justice.

7. THOU SHALT NOT SUCCUMB TO THE BLANDISHMENTS OF

PUBLIC PRESSURE ON PRIVATE GREED;
- The pressure and influences brought to bear upon a Judge in the
adjudication of cases are great. Thus, tritely perhaps, there is a
need for independent-minded Judges.

8. THOU SHALT NOT ABUSE THE POWERS OF THY OFFICE;

- Judge dispenses justice for the community. He is the states
instrument to assure that everyone is given his due. The judge
speaks and acts for the State, not for himself. He, therefore, wield
the powers of his office with restraint and with reason.

9. THOU SHALT NOT FORGET THAT MERCY OR COMPASSION IS

THE TWIN VIRTUE OF JUSTICE; AND
- A Judge need not to be strict to the point of unreasonableness.
- Judge ought to be gentle, compassionate and understanding
especially to the poor, the distressed, the illiterates, the so-called
dregs of society.
- Judge should make equal protection of the law a living reality of
these people who most need it.

5
Fernandez v. Presbitero, 79 SCRA 61
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF THE JUDICIARY
MANUEL M. LAZARO
10. THOU SHALT NOT REMAIN STATIC BUT MOVE WITH THE
DYNAMISM OF THE LAW
- Law is a living and pulsating thing; it is inexorably growing.
- A Judge should make a conscious effort to study the law and
jurisprudence and keep abreast not only with legal developments
but also with social, political, economic and even cultural
developments.
- Judge should never stop to study and to ponder, for law is never
static, it moves and should move with the times.

Law is a demanding and jealous mistress. If you cannot keep up

with her, she is going to leave you behind, useless and impotent.

These TEN COMMANDMENTS of the Judiciary is in furtherance of Lawyers

oath, as follows:

I, do solemnly swear that I will maintain allegiance to the Republic of

the Philippines, I will support the Constitution and obey the laws as
well as the legal orders of the duly constituted authorities therein; I
will do no falsehood, nor consent to the doing of any in court; I will
not wittingly or willingly promote or sue any groundless, false or
unlawful suit, or give aid nor consent to the same; I will delay no man
for money or malice, and will conduct myself as a lawyer according to
the best of my knowledge and discretion, with all good fidelity as well
to the courts as to my clients; and I impose upon myself these
voluntary obligations without any mental reservation or purpose of
evasion. So help me God.

The lawyer's oath is not mere facile words, drift and hollow, but a
sacred trust that must be upheld and kept inviolable. ( Sebastian vs.
Calis, 1999)
It is NOT a mere ceremony or formality for practicing law. Every lawyer
should at all times weigh his actions according to the sworn promises
he made when taking the lawyer's oath. ( In Re: Argosino, 1997, In Re:
Arthur M. Cuevas, 1998).