July 15th, 2007
a day in court
I want to become a lawyer.
I work for a lawyer.
But i have not been inside a court room before, until July 12, 2007. It was part of our requirements for Provisional Remedies, to spend a day in court. Of course, inside the sala of our ever beloved, always so cheerful professor, Judge Daray.
I did not know that a day in court could change my outlook in becoming a lawyer.
Judge Daray did mention that if you wanted to be a lawyer, you must have a cheerful disposition. Basically, you must be a happy person.
And I know that she speaks from experience. And she lives by example --always smiling kasi yun, pero terror sa loob ng court pala?!.
Grabe pala ang pressure. (or baka sa Digos lang yun?)
There were more or less 5 to 6 lawyers present. And a dozen cases to be heard that day.
Two lawyers caught my attention.. Atty. Miro and the PAO lawyer. Before they could sit down, they had to rise again to enter their appearance for another case.
By the 11 a.m., the PAO lawyer, brilliant though he may be, was physically and mentally drained. Objections were no longer made, and the fervor of arguing one's case was slowly diminishing.
I tell myself not to enter PAO.. but then again, how best to serve the needy by offering my services there?
And then another lawyer enters. He prays to the court for an extension, as he cannot present his witness--again.
Judge Daray, clearly irritated, reprimands him. The lawyer just smiles.I learn he's been given three months to locate and present his witness. Judge Daray orders an extension with a warning that failure (again) to present the witness, the case will be decided based on prosecution's evidence.
I think to myself, what if this was a criminal case? And the defendant was innocent rotting away everyday in jail while his lawyer delays his case, on purpose or not.
Or what if his client was guilty, but on bail..and roaming free, while the other party suffers with every day that justice is deprived from them.
Of course, that's just me and my imagination running away. Bottom line is, it was a hard reality to admit, but lawyers did cause the delay.
The lack luster way of dealing with the cases showed the injustice being given to their clients. And to think every court appearance is for a fee!
*Sigh*
I tell myself I will not be swallowed by the system.
I will try to be different.
But will it really make a difference?