Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Upholding Ethical Conduct: Court Personnel’s Duty to Maintain Judicial Integrity
A sheriff’s cockfight betting draws a reprimand—why court employees must avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
Judicial Integrity and Dishonored Checks: Lessons from Beltran v. Judge Rafer
A judge who issues bouncing checks in a private deal faces administrative liability for impropriety, even if the transaction is unrelated to judicial duties.
Court Employee Suspended for Impropriety in Handling Litigant's Funds
Legal researcher suspended one year for receiving P130,000 from a litigant and helping secure counsel in a case before her own branch.
Judicial Conduct: Negligence, Partiality, and the Appearance of Impropriety
A judge's careless signing of documents and joking remarks can constitute negligence and violate judicial ethics, even without proof of bias.
When a Judge's Private Act Crosses the Line: Lessons from Perez v. Costales
A judge's letter to university officials about his wife's cases was reprimanded for impropriety. Learn the boundaries of judicial conduct.
When a Judge Writes a Letter: Judicial Conduct and the Appearance of Impropriety
A judge's letter to university officials about his wife's criminal cases led to a reprimand. Learn the limits of judicial conduct.
Court Employees Must Avoid Even the Appearance of Impropriety: Balajadia v. Gatchalian
The Supreme Court fined a court stenographer P3,000 for simple misconduct after she hinted at a "commission" in exchange for faster work.
Judicial Conduct When Judges Actions Create AN Appearance OF Impropriety
Judicial Impartiality: Avoiding the Appearance of Impropriety in Judicial Conduct
A judge's private mediation between litigants in pending cases violates the Code of Judicial Conduct and constitutes simple misconduct.
Immorality and Judicial Conduct: Substantiation of Charges in Administrative Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on when judges face administrative liability, the need for substantial evidence, and the duty to avoid impropriety.
Upholding Judicial Integrity: The Duty to Avoid Impropriety and Maintain Public Trust
A judge's failure to wear the judicial robe and improper in-chamber meetings led to a P10,000 fine, reinforcing ethical standards for the bench.
Judicial Ethics Judges Must Uphold Impartiality AND Avoid Appearance OF Impropriety
Judicial Ethics: Court Employees Must Be Above Suspicion at All Times
A court interpreter's well-meaning help in an election case still drew a fine—why judicial employees must avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
Judicial Impartiality Granting Bail AND Avoiding Appearance OF Impropriety
Upholding Judicial Integrity: Timeliness and Impartiality in Court Decisions
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge's duty to decide cases promptly and avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
Judicial Misconduct THE High Cost OF Impropriety IN Custody OF Evidence
When a Judge Crosses the Line: Interference in a Criminal Case and the Price of Impropriety
A Court of Appeals justice was dismissed for trying to influence a prosecutor in a drug case. This article explains the ruling and its lessons.
Judicial Impartiality and the Appearance of Impropriety in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge fined for delay and impropriety, explaining why judges must avoid even the appearance of bias.
Judicial Corruption Upholding Integrity IN THE Philippine Judiciary
The Supreme Court reprimands a judge for impropriety, misdemeanor, and gross ignorance of law in Tapiru v. Biden.
Maintaining Judicial Integrity: Why Avoiding the Appearance of Impropriety Matters
A judge's phone call to a litigant led to a reprimand, not for abuse of authority, but for creating the appearance of impropriety.
Upholding Judicial Integrity: Gross Ignorance of Law and Impropriety in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge's gross ignorance of law and impropriety, and what it means for judicial accountability in the Philippines.
Avoiding the Appearance of Impropriety: Lessons on Judicial Conduct from Garcia v. Valdez
A judge's mere presence in a relative's case can constitute misconduct. Learn the rules on judicial conduct from Garcia v. Valdez.
Judicial Impropriety and Ethical Conduct in the Philippine Judiciary: Lessons from People v. Santos
A 1997 ruling on inadmissible confessions, witness credibility, and kidnapping elements under Philippine law.
Judicial Impropriety: Avoiding the Appearance of Corruption in Philippine Courts
Philippine courts demand not just actual integrity but the appearance of it. This article explains the standard of judicial impropriety.