Case Digest: Pantaleon vs Guadiz, AM No. RTJ-00-1525, January 25, 2000

                           New Code of Judicial Conduct, Competence and diligence |     Legal Ethics


Facts:

Attorney Martin D. Pantaleon filed a letter-complaint against Judge Teofilo L. Guadiz, Jr., accusing him of gross inefficiency, neglect, and unreasonable delay in elevating the records of Civil Case No. 88-2187 to the Court of Appeals.

Pantaleon alleged that despite filing a notice of appeal within the reglementary period, the records had not been transmitted to the Court of Appeals for over three years.

Judge Guadiz claimed he only learned of the delay upon receiving the complaint and blamed a misplaced transcript for the delay.

The Office of the Court Administrator recommended a fine of P2,000 for Judge Guadiz's inefficiency and delay.

Judge Guadiz argues that it is the duty of the branch clerk of court to transmit the records of an appealed case to the appellate court as stated in Section 10, Rule 41 of the Revised Rules of Court. Administrative Circular 24-90 supplements the rules and states that stenographers should transcribe their notes and submit them to the Judge/Clerk of the Trial Court, who must then submit the transcript to the Clerk of the Court of Appeals within 30 days from the perfection of the appeal.


Issue:

WoN the respondent judge is administratively liable. YES.


Held:

By and large, we agree with the conclusions of the Office of the Court Administrator that respondent is guilty of inefficiency, neglect, and unreasonable delay in elevating the records of Civil Case No. 88-2187 to the Court of Appeals.

Respondent cannot hide behind the incompetence of his subordinates. He should be the master of his own domain and take responsibility for the mistakes of his subjects.

A judge is presumed to be cognizant of his responsibilities as a worthy minister of the law. At the very least, he is expected to keep abreast with his docket.

Respondents’ neglect of duty is a matter of record. A judge cannot simply take refuge behind the inefficiency or mismanagement of his court personnel. Proper and efficient court management is definitely his responsibility. He is directly responsible for the proper discharge of their official functions. Court personnel are not the guardians of a Judge’s responsibilities. The efficient administration of justice cannot accept as an excuse the shifting of the blame from one court personnel to another. 

As a final note, the Court deems it fit to remind respondent of Canon 3, Rule 3.09 of the Code of Judicial Conduct. As an administrative officer of the court, a judge should organize and supervise the court personnel to ensure the prompt and efficient dispatch of business and require at all times the observance of high standards of public service and fidelity. A delay of three years in the transmission of court records to the appellate court, where a period of 30 days is required, is inexcusable.


Ruling:

WHEREFORE, respondent Judge Teofilo L. Guadiz, Jr. is ordered to pay a fine in the amount of One Thousand Pesos (Pl,000.00), with the stern warning that further similar misconduct on his part will be dealt with more severely.


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