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Maderada vs. Judge Mediodea

IMELDA Y. MADERADA, complainant, vs. Judge ERNESTO H. MEDIODEA, 12th Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Cabatuan and Maasin, Iloilo, respondent.

A.M. No. MTJ-02-1459 | 2003-10-14

D E C I S I O N


PANGANIBAN, J.:

Under the Rules of Court, parties to a case in a first-level court may -- without having to resign from their posts -- conduct their own litigation in person as well as appear for and on their own behalf as plaintiffs or defendants. However, appearing as counsel on behalf of a co-plaintiff subjects the employee to administrative liability.

The Case and the Facts

A Complaint[1] dated January 3, 2002, was filed by Imelda Y. Maderada against Judge Ernesto H. Mediodea of the 12th Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Cabatuan and Maasin, Iloilo. In the Complaint, the judge was charged with "gross ignorance of...