SC warns marriage equality petitioner over ‘poor decorum,’ attire

The Supreme Court (SC) has admonished the lawyer behind a petition for marriage equality in the Philippines for improper decorum and inappropriate attire during an official function in connection with his case.

The High Court held Jesus Nicardo Falcis III liable for direct contempt for his acts during the June 5 preliminary conference for the June 19 debate on his plea for the legalization of marriage between same-sex couples.

"He is hereby admonished to properly conduct himself in court and to be more circumspect of the duties attendant to his being a lawyer," the SC said on July 3, even despite Falcis' apology and explanation for his apparent blunders.

"He is sternly warned that any further contemptuous acts shall be dealt with more severely," the high tribunal added, with an order for the penalty to appear in his personal record and entered in his file in the Office of the Bar Confidant.

Falcis wore "a casual jacket, cropped jeans, and loafers without socks" to the conference. He also failed to rise and manifest his presence when appearances for the petitioner and petitioners-in-intervention were called and during the initial round of justices' questioning, the SC resolution said.

He also failed to address the SC magistrates "in keeping with customary courtesies," it added, explaining that Falcis acted as though he was "unprepared" and unaware of typical court decorum.

"Atty. Falcis jeopardized the cause of his clients. Without even uttering a word, he recklessly courted disfavor with this Court. His bearing and demeanor were a disservice to his clients and to the human rights advocacy he purports to represent," the SC said.

"This Court does not insist on sartorial pomposity. It does not prescribe immutable minutiae for physical appearance. Still, professional courtesy demands that persons, especially lawyers, having business before courts, act with discretion and manifest this discretion in their choice of apparel."

GMA News Online has sought comment from Falcis.

Falcis is the lawyer seeking the nullification of the provisions of the Family Code that limit marriages to unions between a man and a woman for being unconstitutional.

The oral arguments on his case wrapped up in late June, at the end of which he and the Office of the Solicitor General, lawyer for the government, were instructed to file their memorandum within 30 days. — BM, GMA News