An Analysis of the Experiences of Lawyers Handling Criminal Law Cases within the Philippine Court System through a Weberian Lens

Abstract

In accordance with the Weberian tradition of classical public administration, the core responsibility of the Philippine Public Administration is the efficient delivery of public services to its constituents. In the case of the Judicial branch of the government, this responsibility manifests in the form of a quick disposition of cases filed before its courts. This is particularly important in criminal cases where people may be deprived of liberty while awaiting conviction from the Court – leading to the sentiment that “justice delayed is justice denied.” This study aimed to explore the challenges observed in the Philippine court system by focusing on the lived experiences of lawyers handling criminal law cases and the difficulties they encountered both in the courtroom and while navigating the broader judicial landscape.The study identified the systemic challenges that affected the efficiency and effectiveness of criminal litigation and described the experiences of lawyers in their attempts to advocate for their clients during three different stages of the judicial process (arraignment, pre-trial, and trial) for criminal cases that required the active involvement and appearance of private lawyers in courts excluding post-judgment remedies. At the end of this paper, the authors also proposed recommendations aimed at enhancing support systems for criminal lawyers and improving the overall functioning of the Philippine judicial system to ensure fair trial rights are upheld.