Fair warning to miscreant judges

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta hit the nail on the head when he warned judges that the high court will initiate investigations of dubious court decisions (“SC to probe dubious court decisions,” 10/29/19).

For far too long, many judges have been acting like petty tyrants, rendering decisions that are contrary to law and jurisprudence — and worse, common sense.

Confident that even their dumbest decisions can only be reversed without further consequence, judges feel free to decide cases any way they please or, perhaps, can profit from the most.

That aberration adds to the congestion of cases being brought on appeal. Contrary to what judges think, most lawyers know the law and when a decision sticks in their craw.

Peralta has thus given fair warning to such miscreant judges: Shape up or ship out! No more playing fast and loose with the lives and fortunes of litigants. That the Supreme Court will now “initiate investigations of dubious decisions” ex mero motu (i.e., without any complaint from an aggrieved party) is, indeed, welcome news. Those decisions will speak for themselves. Res ipsa loquitur is finally back as a strong deterrent against recklessness in the discharge of their decision-making duties.

GEORGE DEL MAR,
[email protected]