Law prof admonished for insensitive remarks on ex-judge
THE Supreme Court (SC) admonished a retired judge and law professor following a complaint raised by one of his students at the Southwestern University’s College of Law in 2011.
Judge Meinrado Paredes drew the High Court’s attention when his student—a daughter of another judge—complained about his constant criticism of her mother, Judge Rosabella Tormis.
Tormis was earlier dismissed by the SC for her involvement in the marriage scam in Cebu City.
Her daughter, Jill Tormis, claimed that Paredes repeatedly referred to her mother as “abusive of her position, corrupt and ignorant of the law.”
She also said that Paredes mentioned about Judge Tormis’ son who was allegedly a “court-noted addict.”
Paredes denied Jill’s accusations, saying he never attacked Judge Tormis’ credibility and dignity during his classes at SWU.
Misdeed
He said he discussed about the marriage scams in Cebu City since it constituted a negative experience for all judges, and that aspiring lawyers be reminded of the violation to avoid committing it.
Paredes, who retired in 2014, believed that Judge Tormis used her daughter Jill to get back at him.
The retired judge said that when Jill was his student at SWU, she didn’t complain to him nor to the dean about his discussions in class regarding her mother’s administrative liabilities.
But the High Court noted that when Paredes discussed the marriage scams involving Judge Tormis in his class in 2010, the investigation relative to the case had not yet been concluded.
Bad taste
The decision on the marriage scam case against Tormis and other judges only came out in 2013.
“Although the reasons of Judge Paredes for discussing the marriage scams in his classes seemed noble, his objectives were carried out insensitively and in bad taste,” said Associate Justice Jose Mendoza.
Mendoza said the pendency of the administrative case against Judge Tormis at that time did not give Paredes “unrestrained license” to criticize the lady judge in his class discussions.
“There was no need for Judge Paredes to rub salt on open wounds,” Mendoza said. Also, the SC said Paredes should not have mentioned Judge Tormis’ son and referred to him as a “court-noted addict.”
“It had no relevance to the topic that was then being discussed in class. Judge Paredes failed to restrain himself. He failed to observe the required propriety and to use temperate and courteous language befitting a magistrate,” Mendoza said.
Tormis was one of four judges dismissed by the Supreme Court for involvement in a marriage racket.
The others were Judges Anatalio Necessario, Gil Acosta and Edgemelo Rosales.
They were found liable for solemnizing marriages even if the requirements submitted by the couples were incomplete and of questionable character.
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