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OCA vs Judge Dolores Espanol

OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant versus Judge DOLORES L. ESPANOL, Regional Trial Court, Branch 90, Dasmarinas, Cavite, Respondent.

A.M. No. RTJ-04-1872 (formerly AM-04-6-352-RTC) | 2004-10-18

DECISION 


PANGANIBAN, J.: 

The Constitution requires trial judges to decide cases within 90 days from the time the last pleading is filed.[1] Indeed, justice is defined not just by how but, equally important, by when it is dispensed. When circumstances make it impossible for judges to decide a litigation within the reglementary period, they are required to inform this Court of the reasons for the delay and to ask for an extension within which to dispose of the case. This simple requirement is meant to assure litigants that their causes have not been forgotten and buried among the myriad concerns courts have to attend to, and to...