This case has been cited 1 times or more.
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2004-02-03 |
PER CURIAM |
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| Significantly, parallel to the hearing at the trial court were also petitions and motions involving several incidents in these cases filed with the Court of Appeals and this Court. The appellants, particularly Larrañaga, were represented there by the same counsel de parte.[85] Certainly, it is wrong for these lawyers to abandon appellants in the proceeding before the trial court and unceasingly represent them in the appellate courts. Indeed, in doing so, they made a mockery of judicial process and certainly delayed the hearing before the court below. In Lacambra vs. Ramos,[86] we ruled:"The Court cannot help but note the series of legal maneuvers resorted to and repeated importunings of the accused or his counsel, which resulted in the protracted trial of the case, thus making a mockery of the judicial process, not to mention the injustice caused by the delay to the victim's family." Furthermore, appellants' counsel de parte ought to know that until their withdrawal shall have been approved by the appellants, they still remain the counsel of record and as such, they must do what is expected of them, that is, to protect their interests.[87] They cannot walk out from a case simply because they do not agree with the ruling of the judge. Being officers of the court whose duty is to assist in administering justice, they may not withdraw or be permitted to withdraw as counsel in a case if such withdrawal will work injustice to a client or frustrate the ends of justice.[88] | |||||