On crooked judgments
At a recent forum, Securities and Exchange Commission chair Teresita Herbosa, an aspirant to a Supreme Court seat, expressed optimism that under the stewardship of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, decisions of the courts will henceforth “be based on the merits…” (Inquirer, 9/20/12) She obviously believes in the new chief justice’s moral ascendancy, springing from the latter’s deep faith in God, to inspire such hope. Indeed, to paraphrase US Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, the merits of the case provide a clear guide to predicting how courts will decide cases. That is a desideratum anyone should be able to take to the bank!
