sic itur ad astra

Canon 1 Independence Judicial independence is a pre-requisite to the rule of law and a fundamental guarantee of a fair trial. A judge shall therefore uphold and exemplify judicial independence in both its individual and institutional aspects. Section 1 Judges shall exercise the judicial function independently on the basis of their assessment of the facts and in accordance with a conscientious understanding of the law, free of any extraneous influence, inducement, pressure, threat or interference, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reason. Section 2 In performing judicial duties, Judges shall be independent from judicial colleagues in respect of decisions which the judge is obliged to make independently. Section 3 Judges shall refrain from influencing in any manner the outcome of litigation or dispute pending before another court or administrative agency. Section 4 Judges shall not allow family, social, or other relationships to influence judicial conduct or judgment. The p...

Sec 1. Time to prepare for trial. – After a plea of not guilty is entered, the accused shall have at least fifteen (15) days to prepare for trial . The trial shall commence within thirty (30) days from receipt of the pre-trial order . Sec. 2. Continuous trial until terminated; postponements. –   Trial once commenced shall continue from day to day as far as practicable until terminated. It may be postponed for a reasonable period of time for good cause. The court shall, after consultation with the prosecutor and defense counsel, set the case for continuous trail on a weekly or other short-term trial calendar at the earliest possible time so as to ensure speedy trial. In no case shall the entire trial period exceed one hundred eighty (180) days from the first day of trial, except as otherwise authorized by the Supreme Court. The time limitations provided under this section and the preceding section shall not apply where special laws or circulars of the Supreme Court provide for a...