THE JUDGE (STUDENT’S CHOICE: MOVIE)

Summary:

A well-known defense lawyer of rich criminals was forced to go back to his town after
his mother just passed away. following the burial of his mother, he met again his father, a
revered judge in their town and whom he has a estranged relation with, and was suspected
murdering a man. During the trial of his father, he saw the incompetency of his father's
defense, so he decided to take all the tasks in defending his father which the former
reluctantly agreed. While doing this, the lawyer son also deals with the mistakes he did in the
past which made the strained relationship between them. the father -son/ lawyer - client
relationship was hard for them specially in rekindling the emotions because of their pasts.
The lawyer son found out that his judge father was suffering from a cancer which affects his
memories and was undergoing a chemotherapy that is why the former has no any
recollection of memory of the accident which made him a suspect in a murder case. In the
trial, The judge father insist on testifying as according to him, honored-bound to be ethically
responsible in his act. He even admitted that he cant remember the accident and believes that
he may be intentionally killed his victim.

Legal Concepts/ Themes/ Deviations with Philippine Law:

Legal ethics ; lawyer-client relationship; lawyers responsibility and duty to the bar;
colleagues, community

The movie portrayed how the lawyer son so unrespectful with his colleagues and to the
court. First, when he intentionally peed on his opponent in one case he is handling. Second,
when he thew his notes to his father’s defense counsel in the courtroom and addressing him
as an idiot. As to the court, he was reprimanded by the Judge handling the case of his father ,
to not coach and to leave the courtroom. Canon 8 of CPR provides that lawyer shall conduct
himself with courtesy, fairness and candor toward his professional colleagues.Though a
lawyer's 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 the judicial forum.1 The hurling of insulting
language to describe the opposing counsel is considered conduct unbecoming of the legal
profession.2

Legal ethics ; morality in the legal profession

There is scene in the movie where the lawyer-son just met a lady and flirted with her
inside the bar. Despite the fact that he is not yet annulled with his wife, he had a kissing
1
A.C. No. 5768, March 26, 2010

2
492 Phil. 450
scene with a lady whom he barely knew. Lawyers are expected to observe such conduct of
nobility and uprightness which should remain with them, whether in their public or private
lives, and may be disciplined in the event their conduct falls short of the standards imposed
upon them.3 Lawyers are bound to maintain not only a high standard of legal proficiency, but
also of morality, honesty, integrity and fair dealing. Lawyers are at all times subject to the
watchful public eye and community approbation.4 Those whose conduct – both public and
private – fail this scrutiny have to be disciplined and, after appropriate proceedings,
accordingly penalized.5

Reflections:

Personal feelings are hard to separate or disregard when in handling cases when your
client is your own family members. Setting aside the same is one of the conflicts that lawyers
face every time they represent their relatives this is because what is at stake is the life and
circumstances of their love ones. Aside from being an officer of the court, like the court
itself, an instrument or agency to advance the ends of justice 6 he is also a member of their
family, who should be protecting the rights and needs of their family.

3
496 Phil. 799
4
A.C. No. 9608  November 27, 2012
5
293 SCRA 331, 338
6
G.R. No. 115932, Jan 25, 1995