Lorenzo Vs Marquez

Lorenzo vs.
Marquez, 162 SCRA 546 , June 27, 1988
Judges; Appointment; It is the privilege of the respondent as presiding judge of his court
to recommend the employee with whom he will work; He cannot be held administratively
liable if he did not choose to have complainant reappointed.—On the first charge of
harassment, the respondent explained that he did not recommend the reappointment of
complainant Mercedita G. Lorenzo because she was inefficient. Such reluctance of the
respondent must be because she was a protegee of the respondent’s predecessor,
former Judge Jose Parentela, Jr., who reportedly exposed the illegal issuance of the
subpoena to Obosa by the respondent. Nevertheless, it is the privilege of the respondent
as presiding judge of his court to recommend the employee with whom he will work. If he
did not choose to have said complainant reappointed, he cannot thereby be held
administratively liable.
Same; Rule on inhibition of judges.—No judge or judicial officer shall sit in any case in
which he, or his wife or child, is pecuniarily interested as heir, legatee, creditor or
otherwise, or in which he is related to either party within the sixth degree of
consanguinity or affinity, or to counsel within the fourth degree computed according to
the rules of the civil law, or in which he has been executor, administrator, guardian,
trustee or counsel, or in which he has presided in any inferior court when his ruling or
decision is the subject of review, without the written consent of all parties in interest,
signed by them and entered upon the record. A judge may, in the exercise of his sound
discretion, disqualify himself from sitting in a case, for just or valid reasons other than
those mentioned above.
Same; Same; Rule is explicit that the judge must secure the written consent of all the
parties not a mere verbal consent much less a tacit acquiescence; Failure of respondent
to observe the elementary rules of conduct betrays his unusual personal interest in the
case.—From the foregoing provision of the rules, a judge cannot sit in any case in which
he was a counsel without the written consent of all the parties in interest, signed by them
and entered upon the record. The respondent alleged that since there was no objection
from any of the parties, he proceeded to preside over the case and to decide it. This is a
clear violation of the law. The rule is explicit that he must secure the written consent of
all the parties, not a mere verbal consent much less a tacit acquiescence. More than
this, said written consent must be signed by them and entered upon the record. The
failure of the respondent to observe these elementary rules of conduct betrays his
unusual personal interest in the case which prevailed over and above his sworn duty to
administer the law impartially and without any fear or favor.
Same; Respondent guilty of the charge against him.—No doubt the respondent is guilty
of the charge against him. There was no reason for him to require the appearance of
Obosa in his court, even for a conference. The criminal case pending before him was not
yet ready for trial as the accused was at large. If truly respondent was impelled with the
desire to locate the whereabouts of accused Salamat so that he could be arrested, all
that he could have done was to have a policeman or court employee go to Muntinlupa
for the purpose, or he himself could have done so.
Same; Same; His undue interest to bring out Obosa from his confinement allegedly to
appear before him is obvious.—Under Section 3, Rule 23 of the Rules of Court, a
subpoena shall be signed by the clerk of court or by the judge, if the court has no clerk,
under the seal of the court. The respondent had a clerk of court, Miss Gloria Lorenzo,
and yet he himself issued and signed the subpoena. His undue interest to bring out
Obosa from his confinement allegedly to appear before him is obvious.
Same; Same; Respondent committed grave and serious misconduct in the performance
of his duty.—The respondent committed grave and serious misconduct in the
performance of his duty. He demonstrated his unfitness to be a judge as in fact by his
behavior he has placed the judiciary in disrepute. He abused the great powers of his
office so that he should not stay a moment longer as a member of the judiciary. [Lorenzo
vs. Marquez, 162 SCRA 546(1988)]

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Lorenzo vs.

Marquez, 162 SCRA 546 , June 27, 1988

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