IT IS A rare opportunity to be invited for coffee with a former Supreme Court Justice. I don’t always get the chance to listen to and be influenced with the knowledge and expertise of someone who has become part of the highest tribunal of the land. As a lawyer, I consider it an honor to virtually brush shoulders with former Justice Francis H. Jardeleza.
I would like to express my gratitude to Sigma Alpha Lex (SAL), the official student body of my alma mater, the University of San Agustin – College of Law, for inviting me to be part of a coffee talk entitled “Coffee with Justice Jardeleza: A Talk on the Law, the Practice of Law, and Lawyering”.
The said event was held on March 18, 2021 via Zoom Meetings. It was a joint activity with Central Philippine University (CPU) and West Visayas State University (WVSU) Law Schools.
The talk aimed to provide students with updated knowledge on the operations of the Supreme Court and other law-related topics.
During the first part of the talk, Justice Jardeleza expressed his feeling of dislike on the impression that the Supreme Court justices were the “gods of Padre Faura.” People think everything can be solved by the Supreme Court but he made it clear that the high court can only act on cases and controversies.
This notion was derived from ancient Greek theater when the gods would descend from a mechanical device to intervene in an insoluble plot at the end of the drama. As what another former SC Justice said, the notion is relevant “when the gods of Padre Faura descend from their high perch to exercise their sacred duty and power to protect and enforce the constitutional right of the people.”
Justice Jardeleza answered the question on how the practice of law evolved through time – what were the changes and what remains constant. He discussed the struggles and adjustments of the legal profession since the pandemic hit us.
He shared his thoughts on the “red-tagging” of some lawyers and even judges. He didn’t like it. This kind of cases need police work because not all actions are resolved by the Supreme Court.
Justice Jardeleza was asked whether it is better that the selection of judges and justices be carried thru the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) or thru the Commission on Appointment. He stressed that the judiciary is an independent body despite the power given by law to the President of the Philippines to appoint judges and justices.
On a personal note, Justice Jardeleza candidly shared his personal view on what he thinks is the hardest qualification to acquire or possess in the practice of law. He likewise shared how he balances his professional and personal life.
For everyone’s information, Justice Jardeleza is from Jaro, Iloilo City. He graduated at the University of the Philippines Visayas in1970. He finished his law degree at the UP College of Law in Diliman, Quezon City in 1974. He was the salutatorian of his class and finished third in the 1974 Bar Exams. He also has a Master of Law degree from Harvard Law School in 1977.
Justice Jardeleza was in private practice until 2010. He was appointed Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon in 2011. On Feb. 2, 2012 he was appointed Solicitor-General and on the same year he was appointed as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
He left encouraging words for future lawyers – continue studying the law and become lawyers. They should not give in to fears, threats and attacks on lawyer. He also stressed in one of the Benchmark’s article, the official quarterly magazine of the Supreme Court Public Information Office, that futures lawyers should “not pin hopes on the so-called tips. Basically, you’re studying the whole four years. Law is something I think that you cannot cram, there’s too much to study. And essentially during the review period you go back to what you studied. In fact, that’s what I did…”
The legal community of Iloilo City takes pride in participating in this event. This is a rare opportunity and experience we treasure in our legal career./PN
