Facts:

The case involves Gregorio Conde as the petitioner and City Judge Nicolas Superable, Jr., along with Attorneys Camilo Superable and Angel Superable as respondents. The complaint was filed on February 20, 1968, against Judge Superable for gross misconduct in office, which included allegations of harassment, persecution, and oppression. These actions allegedly led to an unwarranted complaint against Conde and a citation for contempt, resulting in a guilty verdict without due process on April 1, 1965. The two attorneys, Camilo and Angel Superable, were accused of colluding with their brother, Judge Superable, to instigate false accusations against Conde and acting as prosecutors in an investigation led by an Assistant City Fiscal.

On March 15, 1968, the Supreme Court required the respondents to answer the charges, which they denied, seeking dismissal of the complaint. Subsequently, on May 8, 1968, the Court referred the case for investigation to the Executive Judge of the Cou...

Facts:

1. Parties Involved:

   • Petitioner: Gregorio Conde.
   • Respondents: City Judge Nicolas Superable, Jr., and his brothers, Attorneys Camilo Superable and Angel Superable.

2. Nature of the Case:

   • The case is a disbarment complaint filed by Gregorio Conde against City Judge Nicolas Superable, Jr., and his brothers, Attorneys Camilo and Angel Superable, for alleged gross misconduct, harassment, persecution, and oppression.

3. Specific Allegations:

   • Against Judge Superable: Conde accused Judge Superable of gross misconduct, including filing an unwarranted criminal complaint against him and unjustly citing him for contempt without due process.
   • Against Attorneys Camilo and Angel Superable: Conde alleged that they colluded with their brother, Judge Superable, to instigate false charges against him and acted as prosecutors in an investigation conducted by an Assistant City Fiscal.

4. Procedural History:

   • The complaint was filed on February 20, 1968.
   • The Supreme Court required the respondents to answer, and they denied the charges.
   • The case was referred to the Executive Judge of the Court of First Instance of Leyte for investigation, report, and recommendation.
   • The Executive Judge submitted a report on September 18, 1969, recommending exoneration for all respondents.

5. Key Findings from the Investigation:

   • The Investigator found no concrete evidence of collusion between Judge Superable and his brothers in filing the libel case against Conde.
   • The contempt citation against Conde was deemed improper but not sufficient to constitute grave misconduct.
   • The Investigator recommended exoneration for Attorneys Camilo and Angel Superable due to lack of evidence.

Issue:

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Ruling:

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Ratio:

1. Judicial Conduct:

   • Judges must maintain the utmost objectivity and control their personal biases. They are expected to rise above human frailties and ensure that their decisions appear fair and just.
   • A judge's personal feelings must not influence their judicial decisions, and they must avoid any appearance of partiality or impropriety.

2. Contempt of Court:

   • The power to cite for contempt must be exercised with discretion and only when absolutely necessary. Improper use of this power can lead to the curtailment of individual freedoms and human rights.
   • In this case, Judge Superable's citation of Conde for contempt was deemed improper, but it did not rise to the level of grave misconduct.

3. Burden of Proof:

   • The burden of proving allegations of misconduct lies with the complainant. In this case, Conde failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate his claims against Judge Superable and his brothers.
   • Mere suspicion or conjecture is not enough to establish misconduct or collusion.

4. Admonishment vs. Disbarment:

   • While Judge Superable's actions warranted admonishment, they did not justify the extreme penalty of disbarment. The Court emphasized that judges must be held to high standards of conduct, but penalties should be proportionate to the infraction.

Conclusion:

The Supreme Court admonished Judge Nicolas Superable, Jr., for his improper use of the contempt power but found insufficient evidence to support the charges of grave misconduct, harassment, and oppression. Attorneys Camilo and Angel Superable were exonerated due to lack of evidence. The Court reiterated the high standards of conduct expected of judges and the need for impartiality and fairness in judicial proceedings.