Canon 1

Independence

Judicial independence is a pre-requisite to the rule of law and a

fundamental guarantee of a fair trial. A judge shall therefore uphold and
exemplify judicial independence in both its individual and institutional aspects.

It is easy to believe in judicial independence, but it seems much harder to

appreciate independent judges. As an abstract principal, judicial independence
ranks high in our constellation of democratic values- light up there with
freedom of speech, the sanctity of the home, and the right to counsel. And well
it should, since all other rights would be diminished, perhaps even forfeited, in
the absence of judges capable of resisting the will of government or the pressure
of popular sentiment. It is the independent judge, loyal only to the rule of law,
who protects our constitutional liberties, who ensures fairness, and who stands
guard against the excesses of those in power. - Steven Lubet

Judicial independence assures every Judge to guarantee full discharge of

his duty to decide cases or render decisions free from any influence, guidance or
control of others. It could be individual independence towards his family
members and friends; or institutional independence free from the mandate of
any agency or branch of the government. This means that he should come up
with a resolution of a trial not influenced by any fear, resistless friendly
persuasions or even with the impact of money which would affect his decision
resulting to an unfair trial. Basically, to resist such act, judges are supposed to
have a brave and strong character to refuse anyone that might attack his
personal wisdom or independence to render judgment even if the matter would
involve his personal safety.
 Canon 2
Integrity

Integrity is essential not only to the proper discharge of the judicial office
but also to the personal demeanor of judges.

“People would rather be judged by one without competence but with

integrity, rather than by one with competence but without integrity.” This
delightful saying awakens my mind how important it is as a person to possess
such virtue to be equally be respectful as a judge. Judges serve as a model of
truth along with the blend of other fundamental virtues of impartiality,
propriety, equality and independence. This only signifies that integrity affects
how people looked up judges based on their bearing and appearance. Both in
private and public lives, judges are expected to have moral soundness or strong
moral fiber for them to maintain an unimpaired high morality they owe from the
people. They are models in the community and is therefore to perpetually be
that image of honesty and integrity before the people.
 Canon 3
Impartiality

Impartiality is essential to the proper discharge of the judicial office. It

applies not only to the decision itself but also to the process by which the
decision to made.

In order to promote the ends of justice, a judge should have an

appearance of impartiality because hearing is just useless if a judge is not
impartial, otherwise the spirit of neutrality will be erased making his judgment
of opinion “imbalance”- that is a subjective decision rather than an objective
decision of the case. For me, being impartial of a judge significantly bolster
public confidence to the Judiciary because people will not be afraid and worried
to the conduct of a legal proceeding before him because people would tend to
believe that he decides a case equally and fairly based on the weight of evidence
presented to him.
 Canon 4
Propriety

Propriety and the appearance of propriety are essential to the

performance of all the activities of a judge.

The first thing that came in my mind about propriety is the word
“appropriateness.” With regards to its application in the course of Judicial
Ethics is to conform with the prevailing customs and practices. Mere deviation
from the general accepted principles and norms of Judicial Ethics is already
deemed to be “impropriety” or is improper which shows indecency.
 Canon 5
Equality

Ensuring equality of treatment to all before the courts is essential to the

due performance of the judicial office.

Every litigant deserves the right to equal protection of laws, hence this
another virtue on “equality.”

A judge should act and determine cases with uniformity and fairness
before the law. It is where people owe respect for the benefit that no one is
deprived of sameness in treatment by reason of race, color, sex, religious belief,
national origin, caste, social status, and many others.

We are all worthy of equality and a judge cannot deny on that by reason
of partiality, bias or prejudice. He must exercise such virtue with his utmost
responsibility and pleasure free from any extraneous forces in the exercise of his
judicial duty.
 Canon 6
Competence and Diligence

Competence and diligence are prerequisites to the due performance of

judicial office.

Competence is an important attribute of a judge to qualify for such a

skillful job. This requires intelligence and deep understanding on the matters of
law.

Diligence on the other hand, employs the attributes of perseverance,

industry, quickness and carefulness.

“Competence is more on the intellectuality; while diligence is on the

performance.”

Although, these two important qualities are opposite of each other, I

personally believe that a person cannot succeed in the absence of any of them. A
person may be diligent and hard-working but if he is not wise and intelligent, he
cannot survive a game. Same when a person is intelligent or competent but is
lazy, making her life a failure and unproductive.

These two things must combine together to create a successful output.

Similarly, a judge must be competent and at the same time also a diligent man.
Through this, he may be an effective element for the proper disposition and
administration of justice.
 REFLECTION ON MANDATORY
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (MCLE)

The obligation of lawyers to undergo a program of continuing legal

education program is sanctioned by Canon 5 of the Code of Professional
Responsibility when it states that “A lawyer should keep abreast of legal
developments, participate in continuing legal education programs, support
efforts to achieve high standards in law schools as well as in the practical
training of law students and assist in disseminating information regarding the
law and jurisprudence.”

With this responsibility, my personal stand would be on the usefulness of

the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education, which is to ensure that all members
of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines keep abreast with law and jurisprudence,
maintain the ethics of the profession and enhance the standards of the practice
of law. Laws and court decisions are ever changing and would respond to the
needs of people and to the time. There is no excuse that a judge or a lawyer is
ignorant to the law because it is his duty to continually embrace and update
himself to the latest jurisprudence and laws enacted. They are the ones who
implement and feed the law to the laymen as the latter come to them to consult
or ask for legal advice. It is where a healthier justice system depends on how
and what they can help to better administer justice for people.