Thread by @angelotiglao

*my first court story*

Today, I served as the attorney for my client, the accused. It was his arraignment. After a long discussion, he decided that he wanted to admit his guilt in open court, but was scared because the penalty imposable under the law is imprisonment OR a fine.

So I told him that since he’s a first time offender and he plans to plea guilty, most likely the judge was going to just impose the fine as a penalty, in lieu of imprisonment. Still, he was still uneasy because he knew that the fine can reach up to 40K, which he can’t afford.

In my desperate attempt to give him an alternative and ultimately, help him in his problem, I scrambled the internet before the start of the hearing and found RA 11362 or the Community Service Act, a law which allows the judge to impose community service in lieu of imprisonment!

When it was my client’s turn to be arraigned, it went by so fast to the point that the judge ALMOST sentenced my client to prison! At that moment, I had the courage to tell the judge that since my client was a 1st time offender, a fine or community service would be sufficient.

Then it started. I had a recitation in front of the judge. It made me remember law school and how recitation was my favorite part tbh because of the adreneline of it all!

Anyways, the judge made me explain why community service was proper considering the absence of the IRR.

Respectfully, I told the judge that there are rulings by the Supreme Court where it held that the absence of an IRR should not prevent the court from giving effect to the same.

Sadly, the Court decided not to grant community service due to the lack of the IRR... BUT!!!

The judge imposed a fine of only 5,000 - the exact amount which my client told me was the maximum that they can give considering their indigency. Good heavens! God is truly good.

So in the end, my client pleaded guilty but managed to get only a fine, instead of jail time. After the hearing, the client was overjoyed and overflowing with relief...

And for the first time, I really felt like I was making a difference as a lawyer.

Truly, being a lawyer is very very difficult. Your client puts his life and liberty in your hands, with full faith and confidence that you will fight for their rights under the law. A good lawyer, in the eyes of those in need, is hope personified.

So despite the rains, the earthquake, and the Friday the 13th madness, today was a good day! I have a new found appreciation for my profession and I hope to pay it forward even more the future 😌

I’m proud to be a lawyer. My story today reminded me of that. #happiness ♥️

overwhelmed with all your tweets, so i just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to all of you. you’ve made my week 🥳 hope to talk with y’all in my future podcast hehehe #makeithappen