Piloting A New System For Speedy Trial - 012215
Piloting A New System For Speedy Trial - 012215
Piloting A New System For Speedy Trial - 012215
A.M. 14-03-02 SC
After the issues have been joined, the Court, motu proprio or
on motion, directs the parties to simultaneously serve and
submit, within thirty (30) days from notice:
The Judicial Affidavits of their respective witnesses
Their Object and Documentary Evidences
The party who will prove the truth of the factual issue shall be first to
present a witness. If the party has more than witness, the witnesses will
be presented successively respecting such issue.
Court shall be first to examine the witnesses. The parties shall then
take turns to conduct the cross, re-direct, and re-cross of the witness.
After all the witnesses from both sides have been examined, the trial
shall move on to the next issue or related issues in the Order of Trial.
Witnesses from the contending sides shall appear together before the
court.
Conducted in a non-adversarial environment.
Witnesses shall address their answers to the examining judge or
counsels.
Witnesses shall not pose questions to the other witnesses.
First Phase Examination by the court
The court may examine the witnesses in no particular sequence.
The court may also direct its question to one or more of the
witnesses from the contending sides.
The other witnesses from the same side may seek permission to
supplement, clarify, or qualify the answers that the first witness
has given.
Before the second phase, the court may summarize its own
understanding of the position of the parties and the testimonies
of the witnesses.
Second Phase Examination by the parties respective counsels
Counsels may cross-examine, re-direct, and re-cross the witnesses
without prejudice to courts further examination of the witnesses.
If there are multiple parties involved, the court shall fix the order of
cross, re-direct, and re-cross.
After the counsels have concluded their examination of the witnesses,
the trial shall move on to the next issue or related issues in the Order of
Trial.
Exception as to: FORM SUBSTANCE ADMISSIBILITY
WHEN MADE After the question has May be made before the After the question has
been answered answer been answered
DECIDED Take note of the Promptly rule on such Take note of the
exception exceptions exception and consider
the same when deciding
Where warranted, strike the case
out the answer and
rephrase the question
The counsel may move to exclude the whole or part of the testimony
embodied in the JA of a witness.
Objections as to form and admissibility shall be made after the questions
have been answered. Objections as to substance may be raised before the
questions are answered; if the answers have already been given, motions to
strike out may be made.
The court shall act on the objection in same manner provided in Section 24.8
Face-to-Face trial shall not apply:
When one of the witness is either a child or a person mentally,
psychologically or physically challenged. However the face-to-face
trial shall proceed with the other witnesses;
In special civil actions;
In special proceedings;
Where the court perceives the danger of uncontrollable passion
arising from deep animosity between the parties.
Regular Face-to-face Trial Summary or Simple Face-to-face Trial
Involves complex or numerous issues Involves simple and few issues
Evidence from both sides consist of Court shall hold a simple one-time face-to-
several witnesses or involve numerous face trial, with an oral judgment rendered
pieces of evidence at the end of the trial
Hearings spread over a period of time
Alternate or Regular face-to-face trial of issues Simple face-to-face trial of issues
The court shall direct the parties to simultaneously
The court may immediately hear the parties briefly on
submit their respective memorandum or draft decision oral arguments.
within 30 days from the date the trial ended. The court shall orally state its ruling and announce the
The court shall, within 10 days from receipt of said dispositive part of its judgment.
memorandum or draft decision, set the case for oral The oral judgment shall be recorded.
arguments. The court shall then direct the winning party to
The court shall render a written decision within 90 days
submit a memorandum or draft decision.
In place of oral judgment, the court may direct the
after the hearing the parties on their oral argument.
parties to submit their respective memorandum or
The court may wholly or partially adopt or use the draft decision within 30 days from the date the trial
memorandum or draft decision of the winning party. ended.
The court shall promulgate its written decision within
60 days from the face to face trial.
Trials shall be intransferable except on grounds of fortuitous event or
serious illness of a counsel or witness. (section 24.14)