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MOVING THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE-A TRUE CHALLENGE
Kathlyn Q. Barrozo
Class of 1991, University of Santo Tomas
B.S. Medical Technology
Justice delayed is justice denied, so goes the legal maxim that all courts in the world need to uphold at all times.
Those who seek justice deserve to get it in the most forthcoming and express manner possible. However, with
the way delaying tactics can be so readily employed along with several technicalities, justice often fails to be
administered in a manner that an aggrieved party would definitely benefit from. The more loopholes you or
your lawyer/s can find, the slower the wheels of justice against you will turn. Great for you, but a long tenure of
suffering for the other party.
There have been stories of individuals so desperate about getting any justice for their causes that they take
their own lives if only to prove a point: that they have sought justice and failed to find it. Such unfortunate
events smack of the hypocrisy of the entire justice system. We have Lady Justice holding a scale in one hand
and a sword in the other, in addition to having her eyes blindfolded. This image signifies that regardless of any
consideration, justice is to be meted out with complete impartiality and decisive action. To tip the scales of
justice in one’s favor is to win a case, but not necessarily to prove that one side is righter than the other.
We all have heard of legal battles where the one with less financial merit, political influence or social stature is
brought to the gallows. Then, perhaps at a more opportune time, they get their cases reopened and they are
tried all over again. Maybe, they are set free but their years spent in prison are wasted. One can only pity such
individuals, but what can we do? We can’t all afford the best lawyers, and pro-bono legal defenders are few.
One can only hope that victims of such eventualities ultimately get the justice they deserve by some stroke of
fate-or luck.
Let us hope that our future breed of lawyers decide to have their pockets filled with memories of the people
they’ve helped obtain justice rather than the countless bills that they get paid with. Let’s pray that someday,
lawyers will be more concerned about helping their fellowmen seek true justice rather than about winning case
after case to have lots of money to line their pockets with. It is indeed difficult to use one’s resources to seek
redress for a client who has nothing to give or pay you back, but the fulfillment of knowing you’ve brought
order where there’s chaos and justice when there seems to be none is a nobler cause. Perhaps if all the world’s
lawyers decided to handle at least two cases a year for free, we’d have less congested prisons. But that’s
wishful thinking, because it would mean we’d have congested legal courts!
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1.
Elaborate on the legal maxim: Justice delayed is justice denied.
2.
Would you want to become a lawyer? Why or why not?
3.
What are the causes of delayed justice? Be able to cite specific examples, if needed.
4.
Talk about a very controversial legal case that you know of in class. Discuss the details and the
accompanying circumstances.
5.
Do you think the life of a lawyer is exciting and challenging/? Justify your answer.