Appearance of impropriety

Pagsulod ni Atty. Isaac Matolig sa husgado, naa na iyang kliyente. Naa na sab ang iyang mga gikiha og ejectment. Pero wa pa niya makita karong buntaga si Atty. Andy Pinogam iyang atbang nga manlalaban. Alas nuybe na man unta sa buntag. Pre-trial ang schedule karon.

Unya, dagta’g pila ka minutos, niabli ang pultahan sa chambers. Nigawas si Atty. Pinogam. Niabot na diay siya. Unya dugay nga nakighinabi ni Judge Owen Fuligo sa chambers. Taudtaod, nigawas si Judge Fuligo sa chambers ug nisaka sa iyang malatrono nga puwesto. Pagkakita niya nga diha na si Atty. Matolig, nanglipaghong ang huwes. Naulaw siya nga nasayod, nga nakamatikod si Atty. Matolig nga gipasulod niya si Atty. Pinogam sa chambers.

“Before we start the session, I would like to confer with both of you counsels inside the chambers” ni Judge Fuligo dayong balik sulod sa chambers. Nisunod ang duha ka abogado.

“I don’t want to show an appearance of impropriety. It is improper for a judge to entertain a lawyer who has a case in his courtroom, inside the chambers. But I would like to inform you Atty. Matolig, that we had not talked about the case with Atty. Pinogam” ni Judge Fuligo, dihang nakalingkod na sila sulod sa chambers.

“That’s right compañero,” ni Atty. Pinogam. Nitan-aw ni Atty. Matolig. “Ang tinood nakig-istorya ko ni judge sa chambers aron sa pagpangayo’g pasaylo. Kay wa pa man ko kaila niya ganiha. Karon pa gud ta kaanhi ining iyang husgado. Unya, sa CR ganiha, haras kaayo ko’g lihok. Hapit nako siya banggai ug giilogan pa gyud nako siya’g lugar sa ihianan” dugang ni Atty. Pinogam. Nakatawa si Atty. Matolig.

“I would not take it against you, judge. You are free to make your own policy. It’s either you allow lawyers to approach you or not. I am not an insecure lawyer. I believe in my case and in my evidence. I would respect your decision in the case whichever way. If it would be in our favor, we would be happy. But if not, I will hold it against you. I’ll just have to prove you wrong before the higher court. What’s important is that you would do your job” ni Atty. Matolig. Nakaginhawa’g luag si Judge Fuligo. “Thank you compañero for your gracious understanding,” ni Judge Fuligo. Nilamano sa abogado. (Kataposan)