IT is reassuring that we have a reformist Supreme Curt capable of cleansing the Judiciary on its own.

As there is a need for what it called “continuing legal education” for members of the bar, so should there be also a serial elimination of misfits, incompetents, and outright scoundrels in black robes.

The presence of undesirables on the bench not only diminishes the credibility of our courts of law; it undermines the administration of justice, freedom, and democracy. Indeed, our very own way of life as we know it.

A sensitive, responsive SC is the key to maintaining the people’s trust and confidence as well as reining in an overbearing Executive or an intrusive Congress.

On the economic front, a competent, credible and discerning Judiciary fosters private sector confidence in investing in the country, particularly among foreign businessmen.

And so to reassure the foreign business community, Chief Justice Renato Corona announced ongoing reforms in the judiciary, saying at least 35 justices, judges, and court personnel were dismissed from the service for various misdemeanors.

The CJ told the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines  in a gathering last Thursday that the SC had disbarred five lawyers and suspended eight others, meted out admonitions to six, given severe warnings to two, imposed various fines on 60 others, ordered the arrest and detention of nine, and severely reprimanded one.

“We had imposed various fines on 101 and suspended 42,” Corona was quoted by a major broadsheet as saying.

He said the High Court had a memorandum order providing guidelines on the gathering of data on anti-corruption cases filed and disposed of in all courts involving officials and personnel of the judiciary.

Corona stressed the MO aims to enhance judicial integrity and eradicate corruption within the bench.

The CJ also took the opportunity to thank the ECCP for its support,  noting that the ECCP has emphasized the importance of the judicial system in the economy and business. Among those who attended the gathering were ECCP president Hubert d’Aboville and vice president for external affairs Henry Schumacher.

Corona said the SC, in partnership with the Society for Judicial Excellence, also gives annual recognition and awards to judges and clerks of court who are paragons of excellent judicial conduct and performance.

He also announced the training programs in the Philippine Judicial Academy and the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education program of the Judiciary, saying that the programs are top quality and have received favorable comments from various local and international agencies.

Pursuant to its rule-making power, the CJ said the SC also has institutionalized certain rules, programs, and measures enhancing the people’s access to justice, especially for the underprivileged.