A.M. No. MTJ-07-1667 - OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, COMPLAINANT, VS. JUDGE JAMES V. GO AND MA.

Ruling

Accordingly, judges should be imbued with a high sense of duty and responsibility in the discharge of their obligation to promptly administer justice. [13] Undue delay in rendering a decision or order is a less serious charge [14] punishable by suspension from office without salary and other benefits ranging from one to three months; or a fine of more than P10,000 but not exceeding P20,000.00. [15] Under the circumstances prevailing in the instant case, we find the penalty of suspension for three months without salary and benefits appropriate. We also note that Judge Go failed to comply with the Resolution of this Court dated January 27, 2007. His request for an extension of time to file comment was merely "relayed" by Clerk of Court Rosales. Even after his request was granted, Judge Go failed to file a comment. Instead, he sent a 3-liner letter curtly informing this Court that he is denying all the allegations in the judicial audit report and demanding a formal hearing. A resolution of the Supreme Court should not be construed as a mere request, and should be complied with promptly and completely. Such failure to comply accordingly betrays not only a recalcitrant streak in character, but also disrespect for the Court's lawful order and directive. [16] For displaying a manifest indifference to the Resolution of this Court, Judge Go should be fined in the amount of P10,000.00. Judge Go likewise failed to satisfactorily rebut the audit findings that he leaves the court premises immediately after presiding over the hearings in the morning and would return only the following day. Judge Go erroneously believed that being a judge excuses him from complying with the eight-hour service requirement every working day. Just like any ordinary government employee, judges are required to render at least eight-hours of service. Circular No. 13 [17] provides the following guidelines for all trial courts: Punctuality and strict observance of office hours . - Punctuality in the holding of scheduled hearings is an imperative. Trial judges should strictly observe the requirement of at least eight hours of service a day, five hours of which should be devoted to trial, specifically from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. as required by par. 5 of the Interim Rules issued by the Supreme Court on January 11, 1988, pursuant to Sec. 16 of BP 129. Judges are duty bound to comply with the required working hours to insure the maximum efficiency of the trial courts for a speedy administration of justice. Daily trials at a minimum of five hours per working day of the week will enable the judge to calendar as many cases as possible and to dispose with regular dispatch the increasing number of litigations pending with the court. All other matters needing the attention of the judge are to be attended to outside of this five-hour schedule of trial. [18] Judges are reminded that circulars prescribing hours of work are not just empty pronouncements. They are there for