THE Supreme Court has urged judges and court personnel to be “cautious and circumspect” in using social networking sites.
Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez issued Circular 173-2017 reminding all judges and court personnel of first and second level courts on the proper use of social media.
“They must avoid ‘impropriety and the appearance of impropriety’ in all of their activities, whether these be in the course of their duty or in their personal lives,” said Marquez in the circular dated Aug. 17.
Marquez issued the circular after observing that some judges and court personnel are active in social media through sharing personal photos and updates or even posting their views and comments on certain issues and current events.
While judges and court personnel are not prohibited from engaging in social media, Marquez said that by doing so, “they do not thereby shed their status as members of the judiciary.”
Though the use of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram is an exercise of freedom of expression, Marquez said there is still the restriction on the judge’s conduct inherent in the office.
Photographs and commentaries, including “sharing” and “liking” posts, are generally acceptable for the general public.
However, these acts may be considered “inappropriate” for the judiciary members due to “higher standard of integrity, candor, and fairness imposed on them,” said Marquez.
In socializing via social media, judges and court workers should communicate in a way to create and contribute to the people’s opinion not just of the judges but of the entire judiciary.
“Thus, judges and court personnel are reminded to conduct themselves in a way that would not call into question the dignity of the judiciary,” said Marquez.
Lawyer Mundlyn Misal-Martin, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu Chapter, said the SC Circular is designed to shield the judges from having their interaction in social media interpreted in ways prejudicial to them when certain cases related to their interaction in media arrive in their sala. (GMD)