Canon 1 | Independence

Sec. 5 Judges shall not only be free from appropriate connections with. and
influence by, the executive and legislative branches of government, but
must also appear to be free therefrom to a reasonable onserver.

Freedom from institutional influences

- The judges must be vigilant in guarding their independences against

corroding influences emanating from the other branch of the government
- They must not fraternize with officials which will tend to create the
negative impression that in the near future there will be some mutual
reciprocations for the accomodations or favors extended to one another.

Judges must be Fearless and Unafraid to Displease Any Person

Existing balance of power shall not Influence Judges

- In judicial ethics, there is no debt of gratitude to pay at the expense of truth and
justice and at the peril of the judges' independence. The guide of the judges is always
and only the law lighted by their conscience.
- Judges should avoid making improper connections and resist offers of financial and
other kind of assisntance from public officials, governors and mayors, and similar
others who would be inclined to exert efforts to befriend them for corrupt motives and
anticipated possible reciprocation in the future.
Illustrative Case:

Sec. 6. Judges shall be indepedent in relation to society in general and in

relation to the particular parties to a dispute which he or she has to
adjudicate.

Individual or personal independence

- Judges must maintain their individual independence or their public reputation that
they are not approachable when it comes to cases they are adjudging.
- They must exhibit reasonable aloofness from the members of the community,
particularly persons with pending or impending controverses in their courts.
- Does not necessarily mean that the judges should live in retirement or seclusion or
comparably like hermits. They may still commingle with the society provided that they
donot compromise their independence.

Illustrative Cases