Turpitude means a corrupt or depraved or degenerate act or practice.

Moral turpitude refers

generally to conduct that shocks the public conscience. Offenses such as murder, voluntary
manslaughter, kidnapping, robbery, and aggravated assaults involve moral turpitude. However,
assaults not involving dangerous weapons or evil intent have been held not to involve moral turpitude.

Moral turpitude may be a reason for deporting an alien. The alien must be convicted of a crime
involving moral turpitude committed within five years after the date of entry, and sentenced to
confinement or confined therefore for one year or longer. Although the conviction must occur within
five years of entry, any entry into the United States may be used to support the charge of
deportability. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a crime of moral
turpitude is inherently base, vile, or depraved, contrary to social standards of morality and done with
a reckless, malicious, or evil intent. It is a broad and subjective term that can be used for any crime
that USCIS considers offensive.

Conviction of crimes of moral turpitude may also disqualify someone from an employment opportunity.
The precise definition of a crime that involves moral turpitude isn't always clear, but the following
crimes are always considered crimes of moral turpitude:

 murder;

 voluntary manslaughter;

 rape;

 statutory rape;

 domestic violence;

 prostitution;

 fraud and crimes where fraud is an element

 all theft offenses (but see receipt of stolen property below);

 blackmail;

 malicious destruction of property;

 arson;

 alien smuggling;

 harboring a fugitive;

 bribery;

 perjury
 Related Terms: Unjust Enrichment, Quantum
A legal principle under which a person should not be obliged to pay, nor should another be
allowed to receive, more than the value of the goods or services exchanged; hence, as much as
is deserved only.

Closely related to the equitable concept of unjust enrichment, quantum meruit is often claimed

by lawyers, for example, where they have performed legal services for a client but neglected to
have the client sign a retainer. In asking a court to recognize their bill for services, they fall back
on quantum meruit.
Although the existence of a quantum meruit remedy does not depend on a contract, it is also a
remedy in contract law where a contract has been breached but after one side received partial or
full benefit, and the contract does not include a clause providing for this eventuality (such as
aliquidated damages clause).
In Litemore, Justice Read borrows from Fridman's 2nd edition of Restitution, which waxes thick
on the legalese but otherwise provides a comprehensive explanation of quantum meruit as follows:
"Quantum meruit is a separate and distinct cause of action from either contract
or tort.

"It is founded upon an obligation imposed by law when there would otherwise be
an unjust enrichment of one party at the expense of the other.

"In a contractual setting, remuneration is said to be paid on a quantum meruit basis

when, although a valid contract is found to exist in fact and law, there is no clause
spelling out in express terms the consideration for the contract. In such
circumstances, the courts award reasonable remuneration to the person who has
rendered the services.

"In a quasi-contractual setting, an action for quantum meruit is based, in general,

upon the rendering of services by one person to another who has requested such
services be rendered or freely accepted them with the knowledge that they are not
rendered gratuitously... A person should only be called upon to pay for benefits, in
general, where he has requested or freely accepted such services with the
opportunity to reject. It is not sufficient that the plaintiffs have rendered the services
under a mistake. He must go further and show that the services were requested or
freely accepted by the defendant."

In Bond Development (2006), a Canadian court summarized the term as follows:

"A claim for quantum meruit is for reasonable remuneration for the services provided,
the amount it deserves or what the job is worth.

"Thus, the trial judge was correct when he noted ... that, '(q)uantum meruit involves
consideration of the amount and value of the services rendered, not potential profit.'
The amount to which a plaintiff is entitled on the basis of unjust enrichment is the
 value of the benefit obtained by the defendant, and not the loss to the plaintiff
assessed as if the contract were fulfilled."

Amicus Curiae
Literally, friend  of  the court.  A  person  with strong  interest in  or views  on the  subject matter of an  actio
n,but not  a  party  to  theaction,  may petition the  court  for  permission  to  file a brief, ostensibly on  behalf 
of a party but  actually to suggest  a  rationaleconsistent  with its  own  views. Such  amicus curiae briefs a
re  commonly  filed  in appeals  concerning matters of a broad publicinterest;  e.g.,  civil rights cases.  They 
may  be filed by private  persons  or the  government.  In  appeals to the  U.S.  courts  ofappeals,  an amicu
s  brief  may be  filed  only  if accompanied by written consent  of  all parties,  or by leave  of  court  granted 
onmotion  or at the  request  of  the court,  except  that  consent or  leave shall not  be required  when the  br
ief is presented by theUnited  States  or an  officer  or agency thereof.

An amicus curiae educates the court on points of law that are in doubt, gathers or organizes information, 
or raisesawareness about some aspect of the case that the court might otherwise miss. The person is us
ually, but not necessarily,an attorney, and is usually not paid for her or his expertise. An amicus curiae m
ust not be a party to the case, nor anattorney in the case, but must have some knowledge or perspective t
hat makes her or his views valuable to the court.

The most common arena for amici curiae is in cases that are under appeal (are being reconsidered by the 
court) and whereissues of public interest—such as social questions or civil liberties—are being debated. 
Cases that have drawn participationfrom amici curiae are those involving Civil
Rights (such as 1952's BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION), Capital
Punishment,environmental protection, gender equality, infant Adoption, and Affirmative
Action. Amici curiae have also informed thecourt about narrower issues, such as the competency of a ju
ror; or the correct procedure for completing a deed or will; orevidence that a case is collusive or fictitious
—that is, that the parties are not being honest with the court about their reasonsfor being there.

The privilege that friends of the court are granted to express their views in a case is just that: amici curiae 
have no right toappear or to file briefs. Unless they represent the government, amici curiae must obtain le
ave (permission) to do so from thecourt, or consent of all parties in the case, before filing. No court is obli
gated to follow or even to consider the advice of anamicus curiae, even one it has invited.

The principle that guides the appropriate role of a friend of the court is that he or she should serve the cou
rt without alsoacting as "friend" to either of the parties. Rules of court and case law (past court decisions) 
have attempted to spell out thesometimes tricky specifics of how an amicus curiae should—and should n
ot—participate in a case.

For example, Missouri's supreme court in 1969 distinguished the role of amicus curiae from the normal rol
e of the attorney inassisting the court. In this case, the court requested the attorney who had formerly repr
esented the parties in the case tohelp elicit testimony and cross-examine witnesses. The lawyer also mad
e objections and argued objections against the city,which was defending the lawsuit over Zoning. In seek
ing the payment of attorney fees for his services, the attorney arguedthat he had served as amicus curiae 
due to his acting at the court's request. The supreme court found that "in the orderlyand intelligent present
ation of the case, he rendered assistance to the court, the same as any attorney who contributes tothe or
derly presentation of a case. He was appearing, however, not as an adviser to the court but as a represen
tative ofprivate litigants … advancing their partisan interests … and is not entitled to have the fee for his a
dmittedly valuable andcompetent professional services taxed as costs" (Kansas  City  v. Kindle, 446 S.W. 
2d 807 [Mo. 1969]).

The amicus curiae walks a fine line between providing added information and advancing the cause of on
e of the parties. Forinstance, she or he cannot raise issues that the parties themselves do not raise, since 
that is the task of the parties andtheir attorneys. If allowed by the court, amici curiae can file briefs (called 
briefs amicus  curiae or amicus  briefs), argue thecase, and introduce evidence. However, they may not m
ake most motions, file pleadings, or manage the case.

Whether participating by leave or by invitation, in an appearance or with a brief amicus curiae, a friend of t
he court is aresource person who has limited capacity to act.

Further readings
Jost, Kenneth. 2001. "The Amicus Industry." California Lawyer 21 (October): 40.

Hollis, Duncan B. 2002. "Private Actors in Public International Law: Amicus Curiae and the Case for the R
etention of StateSovereignty." Boston College  International and  Comparative Law Review 25 (spring): 2
35–55.

Robbins, Josh. 2003. "False Friends: Amicus Curiae and Procedural Discretion in WTO Appeals Under th
e HotrolledLead/Asbestos Doctrine." Harvard  International Law Journal 44 (winter): 317–329.
West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

amicus curiae
n. Latin for "friend of the court," a party or an organization interested in an issue which files a brief or parti
cipates in theargument in a case in which that party or organization is not one of the litigants. For exampl
e, the American Civil LibertiesUnion often files briefs on behalf of a party who contends his constitutional r
ights have been violated, even though theclaimant has his own attorney. Friends of the Earth or the Sierr
a Club may file a supporting brief in an environmental action inwhich they are not actually parties. Usually 
the court must give permission for the brief to be filed and arguments may onlybe made with the agreeme
nt of the party the amicus curiae is supporting, and that argument comes out of the time allowedfor that p
arty's presentation to the court.
Copyright © 1981-2005 by Gerald N. Hill and Kathleen T. Hill. All Right reserved.

amicus curiae
noun advocate, champion, friend in court, intercessor, intervening
party, party,representative, speaker
Associated concepts: amicus brief, amicus motion to interrene
Burton's Legal Thesaurus, 4E. Copyright © 2007 by William C. Burton. Used with permission of The
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

amicus curiae
 ‘friend of the court’, a person who is not actually involved in a case as a party but who brings amatter to t
he attention of the court. Usually the issue involves the public interest. It is not a universally applicable pro
cedure.
Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006

AMICUS CURIAE, practice. A friend of the court. One, who as a stander by,
when a judge is doubtful or mistaken in a matterof law, may inform the
court. 2 Inst. 178; 2 Vin. Abr. 475; and any one, as amicus curia, may make
an application to thecourt in favor of an infant, though he be no relation. 1 Ves. Sen. 313.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States. By John Bouvier. Published
1856.

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Per curiam
Definition

Latin for "by the court."  An opinion from an appellate court that does not
identify any specific judge who may have written the opinion.

Overview

A "per curiam" decision is a decision delivered via an opinion issued in the

name of the Court rather than specific judges. Most decisions on the merits
by the Supreme Court (and other appellate courts in the U.S.) take the form
of one or more opinions signed by individual justices (and joined in by
others). Even when such signed opinions are unanimous, they are not
termed "per curiam." "Per curiam" decisions are given that label by the
Court itself and tend to be short. Usually, though not always, they deal with
issues the Court views as relatively non-controversial.
For examples, see, e.g., Wood v. Bartholomew, 516 U.S. 1 (1995)
and Kimberlin v. Quinlin, 515 U.S. 321(1995). However, they are not
necessarily unanimous. Indeed, some per curiam decisions are accompanied
by dissenting opinions. See, e.g., Bush v. Gore, 531 US 98 (2000).

The top appellate courts of most states (including, e.g., Alabama, Arkansas,
Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico,
North Carolina) use the same terminology.

wex: 

THE LEGAL PROCESS

civil procedure

courts

CIRCULAR NO. 2-89

TO: COURT OF APPEALS, SANDIGANBAYAN, COURT OF TAX APPEALS,
REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS,
MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS,
SHARI’A DISTRICT COURTS AND SHARI’A CIRCUIT COURTS, ALL
MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION SERVICE AND ALL
MEMBERS OF THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES
SUBJECT: GUIDELINES AND RULES IN THE REFERRAL TO THE
COURT EN BANC OF CASES ASSIGNED TO A DIVISION.
[1] The Supreme Court sits either en banc or in Divisions of three, five or
seven Members (Sec. 4[1], Article VIII, 1987 Constitution). At present the
Court has three Divisions of five Members each. cralaw

[2] A decision or resolution of a Division of the Court, when concurred in by

a majority of its Members who actually took part in the deliberations on the
issues in a case and voted thereon, and in no case without the concurrence
of at least three of such Members, is a decision or resolution of the Supreme
Court (Section 4[3]. Article VIII, 1987 Constitution). cralaw

[3] The Court en banc is not an Appellate Court to which decisions or

resolutions of a Division may be appealed.cralaw

[4] At any time after a Division takes cognizance of a case and before a
judgment or resolutions of a Division may refer the case en consulta to the
Court en banc which, after consideration of the reasons of the Division for
such referral, may return the case to the Division or accept the case for
decision or resolution.
cralaw
[4a] Paragraph [f] of the Resolution of this Court of 23 February 1984 in Bar
Matter No. 205 [formerly item 6, en banc Resolution dated 29 September
1977], enumerating the cases considered as en banc cases, states: chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

"(f) Cases assigned to a Division including motions for reconsideration

which, in the opinion of at least three (3) members, merit the
attention of the Court en banc and are acceptable by a majority vote
of the actual membership of the Court en banc."
[5] A Resolution of the Division denying a party’s motion for referral to the
Court en banc of any Division case, shall be final and not appealable to the
Court en banc. 
[6] When a Decision or Resolution is referred by a Division to the Court en
banc, the latter may, in the absence of sufficiently important reasons,
decline to take cognizance of the same, in which case, the Decision or
Resolution shall be returned to the referring Division. cralaw

[7] No motion for reconsideration of the action of the Court en

banc declining to take cognizance of a referral by a Division, shall be
entertained. cralaw

[8] This Circular shall take effect on March 1, 1989. cralaw

February 7, 1989. 

Barratry
In Criminal Law, the frequent  incitement  of  lawsuits  and quarrels that is a punishable offense.

Barratry is most commonly applied to an attorney who attempts to bring about a lawsuit that will be profita
ble to her or him.Barratry is an offense both at Common
Law and under some state statutes. The broader common-law crime has beenlimited by certain statutes. 
An attorney who is overly officious in instigating or encouraging prosecution of groundlesslitigation might 
be guilty of common barratry under a particular statute. The requirement for the crime of barratry is thatre
peated or persistent acts of litigation are performed by the accused. Barratry is generally a misdemeanor 
punishable byfine or imprisonment. In the case of an attorney, disbarment is the usual punishment. Since 
few cases have beenprosecuted, barratry is considered by the legal community at large to be an archaic 
crime. This is particularly true today dueto a highly litigious atmosphere.

In maritime law, barratry is the commission of an act by the master or mariners of a vessel for an unlawful 
or fraudulentpurpose that is contrary to the duty owed to the owners, by which act the owners sustain inju
ry.

A form of barratry is misconduct of the master of a ship in taking commodities on board that subject the s
hip to seizure forSmuggling. It is essential in barratry that a criminal act or intent exist on the part of the 
master or mariners which inures totheir own benefit and causes injury to the owners of the ship.
West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
barratry
n. creating legal business by stirring up disputes and quarrels, generally for the benefit of the lawyer who 
sees fees in thematter. Barratry is illegal in all states and subject to criminal punishment and/or discipline 
by the state bar, but there mustbe a showing that the resulting lawsuit was totally groundless. There is a l
ot of border-line barratry in which attorneys, in thename of being tough or protecting the client, fail to seek 
avenues for settlement of disputes or will not tell the client he/shehas no legitimate claim.
Copyright © 1981-2005 by Gerald N. Hill and Kathleen T. Hill. All Right reserved.
See: disloyalty
Burton's Legal Thesaurus, 4E. Copyright © 2007 by William C. Burton. Used with permission of The
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

barratry
1 wrongs committed by the crew of a ship that prejudice the ship owner or the charterer.
2 formerly, the wrong of persistently taking out court actions.
3 in Scots criminal law, the crime committed by a judge in accepting a bribe.
Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006

BARRATRY, crimes. In old law French barat, baraterie, signifying robbery, deceit, fraud. In modern usage 
it may be definedas the habitual moving, exciting, and maintaining suits and quarrels, either at law or othe
rwise. 1 Inst. 368; 1 Hawk. 243. 
     2. A man cannot be indicted as a common barrator in respect of any number of false and groundless a
ctions brought inhis own right, nor for a single act in right of another; for that would not make him a comm
on barrator. 
     3. Barratry, in this sense, is different from maintenance (q. v.) and champerty. (q. v.) 
     4. An attorney cannot be indicted for this crime, merely for maintaining another in a groundless action. 
Vide 15 Mass. R.229 1 Bailey's R. 379; 11 Pick. R. 432; 13 Pick. R. 362; 9 Cowen, R. 587; Bac. Ab. h. t.; 
Hawk. P. C. B. 1, c. 21; Roll. Ab.335; Co. Litt. 368; 3 Inst. 175.

BARRATRY, maritime law, crimes. A fraudulent act of the master or mariners, committed contrary to their 
duty as such, tothe prejudice of the owners of the ship. Emer. tom. 1, p. 366; Merlin, Repert. h. t.; Roccus, 
h. t.; 2 Marsh. Insur. 515; 8 East,R. 138, 139. As to what will amount to barratry, see Abbott on Shipp. 16
7, n. 1; 2 Wash. C. C. R. 61; 9 East, R. 126; 1 Str.581; 2 Ld. Raym. 1349; 1 Term R. 127; 6 Id. 379; 8 Id. 
320; 2 Cain. R. 67, 222; 3 Cain. R. 1; 1 John. R. 229; 8 John. R. 209,n. 2d edit.; 5 Day. R. 1; 11 John. R. 
40; 13 John. R, 451; 2 Binn. R. 274; 2 Dall. R. 137; 8 Cran. R. 39; 3 Wheat. R. 168; 4Dall. R. 294; 1 Yeat
es, 114. 
     2. The act of Congress of April, 30, 1790, s. 8, 1 Story's Laws U. S. 84, punishes with death as piracy, 
"any captain ormariner of any ship or other vessel who shall piratically and feloniously run away with such 
ship or vessel, or any goods ormerchandize to the value of fifty dollars; or yield up such ship or vessel to 
any pirate or if any such seamen shall lay violenthands upon his commander, thereby to binder or prevent 
his fighting in defence of his ship, or goods, committed to his trust,or shall make a revolt in the said ship."
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States. By John Bouvier. Published
1856.
THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES
 Rule 139-A
(Inserted by Republic Act No. 6397 which took effect on January 16, 1973)
Section 1. Organization. - There is hereby organized an official
national body to be known as the "Integrated Bar of the
Philippines,"  composed of all persons whose names now appear or
may hereafter be included in the Roll of Attorneys of the Supreme
Court.
Sec. 2. Purposes. - The fundamental purposes of the Integrated Bar
shall be to elevate the standards of the legal profession, improve the
administration of justice, and enable the Bar to discharge its public
responsibility more effectively.
Sec. 3. Regions. - The Philippines is hereby divided into nine Regions
of the Integrated Bar, to wit: chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

(a) Northern Luzon, consisting of the provinces of Abra, Batanes,

Benguet, Cagayan, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga-
Apayao, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino.
(b) Central Luzon, consisting of the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan,
Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, and Zambales; chanrobles
virtua law library 

(c) Greater Manila, consisting of the City of Manila and Quezon City; 

  
(d) Southern Luzon, consisting of the provinces of Batangas, Cavity
Laguna, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Quezon,
and Rizal;
(e)  Bicolandia, consisting of the provinces of Al bay, Camarines
Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon;
(f) Eastern Visayas, consisting of the provinces of Bohol, Cebu,
Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte;
(g) Western Visayas, consisting of the provinces of Aklan, Antique,
Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Palawan, Romblon,
and Siquijor;
(h) Eastern Mindanao, consisting of the provinces of Agusan del
Norte, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, CaMiguin, Davao del Norte, Davao
del Sur, Davao Oriental, Nlisamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte, and
Surigao del Sur; and
(i) Western M;ndanao, consisting of the cities of Basilan and
Zamboanga, and the provinces of Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Lanao
del Sur Misamis Occidental, South Cotabato, Sulu, Zamboanga del
Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur.
In the event of the creation of any new province, the Board of
Governors shall, with the approval of the Supreme Court, determine
the Region to which the said province shall belong.
Sec. 4. Chapters. - A Chapter of the Integrated Bar shall be
organized in every province. Except as hereinbelow provided, every
city shall be considered part of the province within which it is
geographically situated.
A separate Chapter shall be organized in each of the following
political subdivisions or areas: chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

(a) The sub-province of Aurora; 

(b) Each congressional district of the City of Manila; 
(c) Quezon City; 
(d) Caloocan City, Malabon and Navotas; 
(e) Pasay Citys Makati, Mandaluyong and San Juan del Monte; 
(f) Cebu City; and 
(g) Zamboanga City and Basilan City.
Unless he otherwise registers his preference for a particular
Chapter, a lawyer shall be considered a member of the Chapter of
the province, city, political subdivision or area where his office, or, in
the absence thereof, his residence is located. In no case shall any
lawyer be a member of more than one Chapter.
Each Chapter shall have its own local government as provided for by
uniform rules to be prescribed by the Board of Governors and
approved by the Supreme Court, the provisions of Section 19 of this
Rule notwithstanding.
Chapters belonging to the same Region may hold regional
conventions on matters and problems of common concern.
Sec. 5. House of Delegates. - The Integrated Bar shall have a House
of Delegates of not more than one hundred twenty members who
shall be apportioned among all the Chapters as nearly as may be
according to the number of their respective members, but each
Chapter shall have at least one Delegate. On or before December 31,
1974, and every four years thereafter, the Board of Governors shall
make an apportionment of Delegates. chanrobles virtua law library
The term of the office of Delegate shall begin on the date of the
opening of the annual convention of the House and shall end on the
day immediately preceding the date of the opening of the next
succeeding annual convention. No person may be a Delegate for
more than two terms.
The House shall hold an annual convention at the call of the Board of
Governors at any time during the month of April of each year for the
election of Governors, the reading and discussion of reports
including the annual report of the Board of Governors, the
transaction of such other business as may be referred to it by the
Board, and the consideration of such additional matters as may be
requested in writing by at least twenty Delegates. Special
conventions of the House may be called by the Board of Governors to
consider only such matters as the Board shall indicate. A majority of
the Delegates who have registered for a convention, whether annual
or special, shall constitute a quorum to do business.
Sec. 6. Board of Governors. - The Integrated Bar shall be governed
by a Board of Governors.  Nine Governors shall be elected by the
House of Delegates from the nine Regions on the representation
basis of one Governor from each Region.  Each Governor shall be
chosen from a list of nominees submitted by the Delegates from the
Region, provided that not more than one nominee shall come from
any Chapter. The President and the Executive Vice President, if
chosen by the Governors from outside of themselves as provided in
Section 7 of this Rule, shall ipso facto become members of the
Board. 
  
The members of the Board shall hold office for a term of one year
from the date of their election and until their successors shall have
been duly elected and qualified. No person may be a governor for
more than two terms
The Board shall meet regularly once every three months, on such
date and such time and place as it shall designate. A majority of all
the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum to do business.
Special meetings may be called by the President or by five members
of the Board.
Subject to the approval of the Supreme Court, the Board shall
adopt By-Laws and promulgate Canons of Professional Responsibility
for all members of the Integrated Bar. The By-Laws and the Canons
may be amended by the Supreme Court motu proprio or upon the
recommendation of the Board of Governors.
The Board shall prescribe such other rules and regulations as may be
necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of the Integrated
Bar as well as the provisions of this Rule.
Sec. 7. Officers. - The Integrated Bar shall have a President and an
Executive Vice President who shall be chosen by the Governors
immediately after the latter's election, either from among
themselves or from other members of the Integrated Bar, by the
vote of at least five Governors. Each of the regional members of the
Board shall be  ex officio  Vice President for the Region which he
represents.
The President and the Executive Vice President shall hold office for a
term of one year from the date of their election and until their
successors shall have duly qualified. The Executive Vice President
shall automatically become the President for the next succeeding full
term. The Presidency shall rotate from year to year among all the
nine Regions in such order of rotation as the Board of Governors
shall prescribe. No person shall be President or Executive Vice
President of the Integrated Bar for more than one term.
The Integrated Bar shall have a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such
other officers and employees as may be required by the Board of
Governors, to be appointed tray the President with the consent of
the Board, and to hold office at the pleasure of the Board or for such
terms as it may fix. Said officers and employees need not be
members of the Integrated Bar.
Sec. 8. Vacancies. - In the event the President is absent or unable to
act, his duties shall be performed by the Executive vice President;
and in the event of the death, resignation or removal of the
President, the Executive Vice President shall serve as Acting
President during the remainder of the term of the office thus
vacated. In the event of the death, resignation, removal, or disability
of both the President and the Executive Vice President, the Board of
Governors shall elect an Acting President to hold office until the next
succeeding election or during the period of disability. chanrobles virtua law
library
The filling of vacancies in the House of Delegates, Board of
Governors, and all other positions of Officers of the Integrated Bar
shall be as provided in the By-Laws. Whenever the term of an office
or position is for a fixed period, the person chosen to fill a vacancy
therein shall serve only for the unexpired term.
Sec. 9. Membership dues. - Every member of the Integrated Bar shall
pay such annual dues as the Board of Governors shall determine
with the approval of the Supreme Court. A fixed sum equivalent to
ten percent (10%) of the collection from each Chapter shall be set
aside as a Welfare Fund for disabled members of the Chapter and the
compulsory heirs of deceased members thereof
Sec. 10. Effect of non-payment of dues. - Subject to the provisions of
Section 12 of this Rule, default in the payment of annual dues for six
months shall warrant suspension of membership in the Integrated
Bar, and default in such payment for one year shall be a ground for
the removal of the name of the delinquent member from the Roll of
Attorneys. 
  
Sec. 11. Voluntary termination of membership; reinstatement. - A
member may terminate his membership by filing a written notice to
that effect with the Secretary of the Integrated Bar, who shall
immediately bring the matter to the attention of the Supreme Court.
Forthwith he shall cease to be a member and his name shall be
stricken by the Court from the Roll of Attorneys. Re-instatement may
be made by the Court in accordance with rules and regulations
prescribed by the Board of Governors and approved by the Court. 
  
Sec. 12. Grievance procedures. - The Board of Governors shall
provide in the By-Laws for grievance procedures for the enforcement
and maintenance of discipline among all the members of the
Integrated Bar, but no action involving the suspension or disbarment
of a member or the removal of his name from the Roll of Attorneys
shall be effective without the final approval of the Supreme Court. 
  
Sec. 13. Non-political Bar. - The Integrated Bar shall be strictly non-
political, and every activity tending to impair this basic feature is
strictly prohibited and shall be penalized accordingly. No lawyer
holding an elective, judicial, quasi-judicial or prosecutory office in
the Government or any political subdivision or instrumentality
thereof shall be eligible for election or appointment to any position
in the Integrated Bar or any Chapter thereof. A Delegate, Governor,
Officer or employee of the Integrated Bar, or an officer or employee
of any Chapter thereof shall be considered ipso factoresigned from
his position as of the moment he files his certificate of candidacy for
any elective public office or accepts appointment to any judicial,
quasi judicial, or prosecutory office in the Government or any
political subdivision or instrumentality thereof. 
  
Sec. 14. Positions honorary. - Except as may be specifically
authorized or allowed by the Supreme Court, no Delegate or
Governor and no national or local Officer or committee member shall
receive any compensation, allowance or emolument from the funds
of the Integrated Bar for any service rendered therein or be entitled
to reimbursement for any expense incurred in the discharge of his
functions. 
  
Sec. 15. Fiscal matters. - The Board of Governors shall administer
the funds of the Integrated Bar and shall have the power to make
appropriations and disbursements therefrom. It shall cause proper
Books of Accounts to be kept and Financial Statements to be
rendered and shall see to it that the proper audit is made of all
accounts of the Integrated Bar and all the Chapters thereof. 
  
Sec. 16. Journal. - The Board of Governors shall cause to be
published a quarterly Journal of the Integrated Bar, free copies of
which shall be distributed to every member of the Integrated Bar. 
  
Sec. 17. Voluntary Bar Associations. - All voluntary Bar associations
now existing or which may hereafter be formed may co-exist with
the Integrated Bar but shall not operate at cross-purposes
therewith. 
  
Sec. 18. Amendments. - This Rule may be amended by the Supreme
Courtmotu proprio or upon the recommendation of the Board of
Governors or any Chapter of the Integrated Bar. 
  
Sec. 19. Organizational period. - The Commission on Bar Integration
shall organize the local Chapters and toward this end shall secure
the assistance of the Department of Justice and of all Judges
throughout the Philippines. All Chapter organizational meetings shall
be held on Saturday, February 17, 1973.  In every case, the
Commission shall cause proper notice of the date, time and place of
the meeting to be served upon all the lawyers concerned at their
addresses appearing in the records of the commission. The lawyers
present at the meeting called to organize a Chapter shall constitute a
quorum for the purpose, including the election of a President, a Vice
President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and five Directors. chanrobles virtua law
library
The Commission shall initially fix the number of Delegates and
apportion the same among all the Chapters as nearly as may be in
proportion to the number of their respective members, but each
Chapter shall have at least one Delegate. The President of each
Chapter shall concurrently be its Delegate to the House of Delegates.
The Vice President shall be his alternate, except where the Chapter
is entitled to have more than one Delegate, in which case, the Vice
President shall also be a Delegate.
The Board of Directors of the Chapter shall in proper cases elect
additional as well as alternate Delegates. The House of Delegates
shall convene in the City of Manila on Saturday, March 1 7,1973 for
the purpose of electing a Board of Governors. The Governors shall
immediately assume office and forthwith meet to elect the Officers
of the Integrated Bar. The Officers so chosen shall immediately
assume their respective positions. chanrobles virtua law library 

EN BANC DECISIONS OF THE

SUPREME COURT
Decisions (and abstracts of decisions) on cases heard by all the justices of the Supreme Court.

EN BANC
The legal term en banc refers to the hearing of a case by the entire bench, or all of the
judges of a court, rather than a panel of a selected few judges. En banc sessions are
usually reserved for cases of great importance, or to review a contested decision of a
panel of judges on a matter of particular public importance. To explore this concept,
consider the following en banc definition.

Definition of En Banc

Pronounced     än-bänk   (like “on bonk”)
Adjective or Adverb
1. As a full court.
2. With all the judges of a court present.
Origin
1250-1300       Old French    in the bench
What is En Banc
In the United States, appeals and supreme courts are burdened with heavy caseloads.
The courts generally maintain a staff of a certain number of judges (referred to as a
“bench”), from which a group, or “panel,” is assigned to hear each case. Panels of
judges in appeals and supreme court hearings usually comprise three to four judges.
Some matters, however, are considered of such importance to the general public, or of
such complexity, that the entire bench of judges hears the case. The U.S. Supreme
Court hears every case en banc.
Deciding to Hold an En Banc Hearing
While a party to an appeal may request their matter be heard en banc, it has no right to
it. The court in which the matter is to be heard decides which cases it will hear en
banc, based on the subject matter, and matter of law that is to be decided. If a court
decides to hear a case, or a specific matter related to the case, en banc, it
assumes jurisdiction over the entire case. This practice is used to ensure uniformity in
decisions.
In the event a party to an appeal heard by a select panel of Supreme Court judges
disagrees with the decision, it can ask that the decision be reviewed by the Court en
banc. No panel of judges may overrule the decision of another panel. In general, en
banc hearings, or re-hearings, are not favored, being reserved for situations in which:
 en banc consideration is required to maintain uniformity in the court’s
decisions;
 The case involves an issue of exceptional significance.
Requesting an En Banc Hearing
Any party requesting an en banc hearing or re-hearing of their case must petition the
appeals or supreme court in a specific format, following certain rules. According to
the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, a petition for hearing en banc must begin
with a statement that either:
1. The decision by the appellate panel of judges conflicts with a decision of the
U.S. Supreme Court, or of the court in which the Petition is filed. The statement
must include citations to the conflicting case.
2. The case involves at one or more questions of exceptional importance, each of
which must be succinctly stated.

Related Legal Terms and Issues

 Appeal – A request for a higher court to reverse the decision of a trial court.
 Appellate Court – A court whose jurisdiction is to review decisions of lower
courts.
 Bench in legal contexts means simply the location in a courtroom where a judge sits. The
historical roots of that meaning come from judges formerly having sat on long seats
or benches (freestanding or against a wall) when presiding over a court.[1]In modern
courtrooms, the bench is usually an elevated desk area that allows a judge to view the entire
courtroom.

 The word also has a broader meaning in the law – the term "bench" is a metonym used to
describe members of the judiciarycollectively,[2] or the judges of a particular court, such as
the Queen's Bench or the Common Bench in England and Wales, or the federal bench in
the United States.[1] The term is also used when all the judges of a certain court sit together
to decide acase, as in the phrase "before the full bench" (also called "en banc").
 [3]
 Additionally, the term is used to differentiate judges ("the bench")
from attorneys or barristers ("the bar"). The phrase "bench and bar" denotes all judges and
lawyers collectively.[1]

 Bench
 A forum of justice  comprised of the judge or judges of a  court.  The seat of the court o
ccupied by the  judges.
 The bench is used to refer to a group of judges as a collective whole. It is a tribunal or pla
ce where justice is administered.To appear before the full bench means to appear before t
he entire group of judges of the court.
 West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc.
All rights reserved.

 bench
 n. 1) general term for all judges, as in "the bench," or for the particular judge or panel of j
udges, as in an order coming fromthe "bench." 2) the large, usually long and wide desk ra
ised above the level of the rest of the courtroom, at which the judge orpanel of judges sit. 
(See: judge, court, witness stand, sidebar, approach the bench)
 Copyright © 1981-2005 by Gerald N. Hill and Kathleen T. Hill. All Right reserved.

 bench
 noun bar, bar of justice, board, cabinet, chamber, circuit, council, court, court of
justice, court of law,forum, forum of justice, judge, judgment
seat, judicatory, judicature, judicial assembly, judicial forum, judicial
tribunal, judiciary, justice, justice seat, law court, legal
administration, magistracy, magistrate, magistrature, open court, panel of
judges, privy council, seat of judgment, seat of justice, tribunal 
Associated concepts: at the bench, bench docket, bench notes, bench warrant

 See also: bar, body, chamber, court, judicatory, judicature, judiciary, tribunal
 Burton's Legal Thesaurus, 4E. Copyright © 2007 by William C. Burton. Used with
permission of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

 bench
  a judge or magistrate sitting in court in a judicial capacity, or judges or magistrates colle
ctively.
 Collins Dictionary of Law © W.J. Stewart, 2006
 BENCH. Latin Bancus, used for tribunal. In England there are two courts to which this w
ord is applied. Bancus Regius,King's Bench Bancus Communis, Com-mon Bench or Plea
s. The jus banci, says Spelman, properly belongs to the king'sjudges, who administer justi
ce in the last resort. The judges of the inferior courts, as of the barons, are deemed to, jud
geplano pede, and are such as are called in the civil law pedanei judices, or by the Greeks 
Xauaidixastai, that is, humijudicantes. The Greeks called the seats of their higher judges 
Bumata, and of their inferior judges Bathra. The Romans usedthe word sellae and tribuna
lia, to designate the seats of their higher judges, and subsellia, to designate those of the lo
 wer.See Spelman's Gloss. (ad verb.) Bancus; also, 1 Reeves Hist. Eng. Law, 40, 4to ed., a
nd postea Curia Regis.
 A Law Dictionary, Adapted t
A counsel de parte is an attorney retained by a party litigant, usually for a fee, to prosecute
or defend his cause in court. The term implies freedom of choice either on the part of the
attorney to decline or accept the employment or on the part of the litigant to continue or
terminate the retainer at any time. (Agpalo, Legal and Judicial Ethics, p. 3-4)

Counsel De Officio
Sec. 7. Appointment of counsel de officio. – The court, considering the  gravity  of  the  offense  and 
the  difficulty  of  the  questions  that may arise, shall appoint as counsel de officio such members of
the bar in good standing who, by reason of their experience and ability, can  competently  defend 
the  accused.  But  in  localities  where  such members  of  the  bar  are  not  available,  the  court 
may  appoint  any person, resident of the province and of good repute for probity and ability, to
defend the accused.

Sec.  8.  Time  for  counsel  de  officio  to  prepare  for  arraignment.  – Whenever a counsel  de
office is  appointed  by the  court to  defend he accused at the arraignment, he shall be given a
reasonable time to consult  with the accused  as to his  plea before proceeding with the arraignment.

WHAT IS A COUNSEL DE OFFICIO?

>     A  counsel  de  officio  is  the  counsel  appointed  by  the  court  to represent  and  defend  the 
accused  in  case  he  cannot  afford  to employ one himself

WHO CAN BE APPOINTED COUNSEL

DE OFFICIO?
>     The court, considering the gravity of the offense and the difficulty of the questions that may arise
shall appoint as counsel de officio
1.    A member of the bar in good standing
2.    And  such  member,  by  reason  of  his/her  experience  and ability, can competently defend the
accused
>     ONLY  DURING  TRIAL:  But,  in  localities  where  such  members  of the bar are not available,
the court may appoint any person who
is—
1.    A resident of the province
2.    And of good repute for probity and with ability to defend the accused 

Contempt of Court, Direct

Definition

"Direct Contempt of Court" is the inherent power judicial officers possess to

maintain respect, dignity, and order during proceedings. Judicial officers are
not only Circuit Judges or Federal District Judges, but also may often be
specially appointed commissioners or special masters.

A judge may find anyone in her court--attorneys, parties, witnesses, and

spectators--in civil or criminal direct contempt. Because direct contempt of
court involves conduct at the proceedings, criminal direct contempt is much
more unusual than civil direct contempt.

procedure

The judge declares that he "finds" the person in contempt, in the sense that
the judge is making a finding of direct contempt.

The finding is meaningless, until the judge adds a punishment term. The
punishment is mainly a fine or confinement in jail for a brief period of time.
Confinement is usually a day or two, but very rarely can be six months or
more.

The punishment cannot be completely arbitrary. The judge must make a

record about the conduct being punished, and the conduct must either be
offensive or interfere with the proceeding. Conduct that shows direct
disrespect for the court or the judge is sufficiently offensive.

punishment is immediate.

This is a very rare situation in the U.S. legal system. The contemnor has no
right to testify, to call witnesses in his own behalf, to an attorney, to cross-
examine witnesses, to a trial by a jury instead of the judge, or to appeal the
judge's ruling. Wise judges may grant some of these privileges in the right
circumstances, but the judges are not required to do so.
Be careful to distinguish this from indirect contempt of court. A citation for
an indirect contempt is very different.

Illustrative caselaw

For a discussion of the various kinds of contempt, but primarily direct

contempt, see Parkhurst v. U.S. Dept. of Education. The dissent in Parkhurst
also makes interesting points.

Related terms

See also:

 Contempt of court, indirect

 Contempt
 Contempt of Congress
 Contemnor
 Contumaceous conduct

wex: 
THE LEGAL PROCESS

civil procedure

courts

criminal law

criminal procedure

judicial administration

This web page features the full text of

ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 22-95.
ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 22-95

TO:  COURT OF APPEALS, SANDIGANBAYAN, COURT OF

TAX APPEALS, REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, METROPOLITAN
TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL
TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES, MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL
COURTS, SHARI’A DISTRICT COURTS, SHARI’A CIRCUIT
COURTS AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE INTEGRATED BAR OF
THE PHILIPPINES
SUBJECT:  AMENDMENT OF SECTIONS 1 AND 6, RULE 71
OF THE RULES OF COURT.
Rule 71 of the present Rules of Court provides the penalties for
direct and indirect contempt against superior and inferior
courts, to wit: chanrobles virtual law library

[1] In direct contempt, a fine not exceeding P200.00 or

imprisonment not exceeding 10 days, or both, if it be a
superior court, and a fine not exceeding P10.00 or
imprisonment not exceeding 1 day, or both, if it be an
inferior court [Section 1]; and
 
[2] In indirect contempt, a fine not exceeding P1,000.00
or imprisonment of not more than 6 months, or both, if
against a superior court, and a fine not
exceeding P1,000.00 or imprisonment of not more than 1
month, or both, if against an inferior court [Section 6].
The Court takes judicial notice that these were the same
penalties for direct and indirect contempt which were imposed
by Sections 1 and 6, Rule 64 of the old Rules of Court which
took effect on July 1, 1940, or more than 55 years ago.
The Court also takes cognizance of the fact that the amount of
the fine, whether imposed as a complementary or an alternative
penalty, was intended to be financial equivalent of the term of
imprisonment for the offense, from the standpoint of severity,
taking into account the nature of the offensive acts and the
courts against which they were commited. cralaw

In view of the present value of our currency under either the

prevailing international rates of exchange or the consumer price
index which, however, are subject to variant factors, and
considering that the minimum daily wage has often been
adopted as the basis for determining the amount of the fine in
our penal laws, the aforestated provisions of Rule 71 have to be
amended to keep the same abreast with monetary changes by
increasing the amount of the imposable fine, with the average
national minimum wage as the approximate basis therefor. cralaw

Accordingly, the Court Resolved to amend the provisions of

Sections 1 and 6, Rule 71 of the Rules of Court to read as
follows:chanrobles virtual law library

"SECTION 1.  Direct Contempt Punished Summarily. – A

person guilty of misbehavior in the presence of or so near
a court or judge as to obstruct or interrupt the
 proceedings before the same, including disrespect toward
the court or judge, offensive personalities toward others,
or refusal to be sworn or to answer as witness, or to
subscribe an affidavit or disposition when lawfully required
to do so, may be summarily adjudged in contempt by such
court or judge and punished by a fine not exceeding two
thousand pesos or imprisonment not exceeding ten (10)
days, or both, if it be a superior court, or a judge thereof,
or by a fine not exceeding two hundred pesos or
imprisonment not exceeding one (1) day, or both, if it be
an inferior court."
 
"SECTION 6. – Punishment if Found Guilty. – If the
accused is thereupon adjudged guilty of contempt
committed against a superior court or judge, he may be
fined not exceeding thirty thousand pesos or imprisoned
not more than six (6) months, or both; if adjudged guilty
of contempt committed against an inferior court or judge,
he may be fined not exceeding five thousand pesos or
imprisoned not more than one (1) month, or both, and if
the contempt consists in the violation of an injunction, he
may also be ordered to make complete restitution to the
party injured by such violation."
This Administrative Circular No. 22-95 shall be published in two
[2] newspapers of general circulation and shall take effect on
November 16, 1995.

Indirect Contempt Definition:

Contempt of court which occurs not in the presence of a judge
acting judicially, but which tend to degrade the court or to obstruct
or embarrass the administration of justice by the court.
Contempt of Court, Indirect
Definition

“Indirect contempt of court” is the violation of a court order outside the

immediate presence of the court. It may be either civil, or criminal.

A charge of "Criminal Indirect Contempt of Court" is a criminal charge.

Defendants charged in this manner are afforded all the usual privileges of
other criminal defendants, like the right to a trial by jury, to examine, and to
call, witnesses, and to testify on one's own behalf.

In contrast, civil contempt is not a criminal charge. Civil contempt of court is

used to coerce a party to perform an action. When discussing civil contempt,
commentators often use the phrase "the contemnor has the key to the cell in
his own pocket". What this means is that the contemnor will be punished for
only so long as they refuse to perform the action required of them by the
court.  Once the contemnor performs that action, they will
be immediately released from whatever sanction the court has imposed.

Illustrative caselaw

For a discussion of the various kinds of contempt, but primarily direct

contempt, see Parkhurst v. U.S. Dept. of Education. The dissent in Parkhurst
also makes interesting points.

Related terms

See also:

 Contempt of court, direct

 Contempt
 Contempt of Congress
 Contemnor
 Contumaceous conduct

wex: 
THE LEGAL PROCESS
civil procedure
courts
criminal law
criminal procedure
judicial administration

A champertous contract is defined as a contract between a stranger and a party to a lawsuit, whereby the

stranger pursues the party’s claim in consideration of receiving part or any of the proceedsrecovered under
the judgment; a bargain by a stranger with a party to a suit, by which such third person undertakes to carry on
the litigation at his own cost and risk, in consideration of receiving, if successful, a part of the proceeds or
subject sought to be recovered. The intention of the law in prohibiting this kind of contract is to prevent
a lawyer from acquiring an interest in the subject of the litigation and to avoid a conflict of interest between him
and his client.

Legal Basis
Specifically, Canon 16 of the Code of Professional Responsibility states as follows:

CANON 16 - A LAWYER SHALL HOLD IN TRUST ALL MONEYS AND PROPERTIES OF HIS CLIENT THAT
MAY COME INTO HIS POSSESSION.

It has also been held in the case of Mariano Nocom vs. Oscar Camerino, et al. that "[a]n Agreement whereby
the attorney agrees to pay expenses of proceedings to enforce the client’s rights is champertous. [JBP Holding
Corporation v. U.S. 166 F. Supp. 324 (1958)]. Such agreements are against public policy especially where as
in this case, the attorney has agreed to carry on the action at its own expense in consideration of some bargain
to have part of the thing in dispute. [See Sampliner v. Motion Pictures Patents Co., et al., 225 F. 242 (1918)].
The execution of these contracts violates thefiduciary relationship between the lawyer and his client, for which
the former must incur administrative sanction."

References

 Code of Professional Responsibility

 Full text of Mariano Nocom vs. Oscar Ca

Charging Lien
A type of attorney's lien under which a lawyer acquires an interest in a
judgment awarded to the client.  This may mean that the lawyer can
eventually claim a portion of any money paid to the client due to the
judgment.  The lien arises because the client's failure to pay for legal
services.

See Retaining lien (compare).

wex: 
ACADEMIC TOPICS
trial process/advocacy
THE LEGAL PROCESS
civil procedure
class actions
legal practice/ethics
wex definitions
 conflict of interest

n. a situation in which a person has a duty to more than one person or organization, but cannot do justice
to the actual or potentially adverse interests of both parties. This includes when an individual's personal
interests or concerns are inconsistent with the best for a customer, or when a public official's personal
interests are contrary to his/her loyalty to public business. An attorney, an accountant, a business adviser
or realtor cannot represent two parties in a dispute and must avoid even the appearance of conflict.
He/she may not join with a client in business without making full disclosure of his/her potential conflicts,
he/she must avoid commingling funds with the client, and never, never take a position adverse to the
customer.

Attorney's fees; when awarded by way of

damages - G.R. No. 175139
G.R. No. 175139

"x x x.

The award of attorney’s fees is warranted. 

                  Under Article 2208 of the Civil Code, attorney’s fees may be recovered:

xxxx

(2)     When the defendant’s act or omission has compelled the plaintiff to litigate with third persons or to incur
expenses to protect his interest;

xxxx
(11)          In any other case where the court deems it just and equitable that attorney’s fees and expenses of litigation
should be recovered.

In all cases, the attorney’s fees and expenses of litigation must be reasonable.

Considering the circumstances of the instant case, we find respondent-spouses

entitled to recover attorney’s fees.  There is no doubt that they were forced to litigate
to protect their interest, i.e., to recover their money.  However, we find the amount
ofP50,000.00 more appropriate in line with the policy enunciated in Article 2208 of the
Civil Code that the award of attorney’s fees must always be reasonable.

 x x x."
Posted by Philippine Laws and Cases - Manuel J. Laserna Jr. at 3:09 AM   

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