Philippine “HEALING / PSYCHIC JUDGE”

Hello, I,m Philippine Psychic and Healing Judge Floro,
 
    This concerns Haecus' posted report - Created: 04/10/06 22:43pm | Modified: 07/12/06 03:10am-
psychiatric and psychological tests concluded he was not fit for the job -
 
May I add and attach herewith the recent report of Ken Underhill, Lowering the Bar ---
    http://www.loweringthebar.net/2006/06/lowering_the_ba.html
 
and -
 
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2004/03/12/news/judge.asks.sc.to.let.nazario.take.oath.and.fill.sc.vacancy.html
 

[Equestrian Judge Floro on top of TOMA, unregistered race horse, at the inner track of San Lazaro Hippodrome (now SM San Lazaro), December, 2000; and on top of Gemma, argentina racehorse at Subic, Olongapo, SBMA El Kabayo Equestrian Fields, March, 2001]; [Judge Floro’s Oath taking on November, 1998 and December 8, 1998 before Justice Bernardo P. Pardo and President Joseph E. Estrada, respectively].
 

2 oaths july 8 erap pardo

horse july 8 toma

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Re: The Philippine “HEALING / PSYCHIC JUDGE” – 54 & 15 = 69 minutes Philippine Television Documentary uploaded on www.youtube.com --- type judge floro, in the upper search and click/enter; or just click the following:

 
http://www.youtube.com/results?search=judge+floro&search_type=search_videos&search=Search

1. 
   Judge Florentino V. Floro Jr., “Healing Judge” Part 1 of 6 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wECTKjkkZLs&search=judge%20floro
   

 I am Judge Florentino V. Floro, Jr. (a Regional Trial Court Judge of Br. 73, Malabon, NCJR, Metro Manila, REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES). My physical address is 123 Dahlia, Alido, Malolos, 3000 Bulacan, Philippines. My E-mail Address is: judge_florentino_v_floro@yahoo.com; my telephone number is (044) 662-82-03, digitel, Philippines.

 
          In today’s broken world of materialism, atheism, skepticism, pure science and Satanism, man’s continuous search for truth and justice, the ONE, TRUE, GOOD and the BEAUTIFUL, for Hope, is endless. Because of the transcendental and spiritual value of the Gifts of Spiritual Healing and Prophecy (Corinthians, St. Paul), may I please share with you my true-to-life endowment of these TWIN gifts from the AMEN, the Faithful and True, the King of Peace, the Highest Priest according to the Order of Melchisedeck, The Alpha & Omega, the King of Judges, Magistrates, gods and of our hears.

 
CHANNEL 2 & NEWS CHANNEL (Cable) ABS-CBN
(TELECAST WORLDWIDE VIA SATTELITE)
I. KASANGGA MO ANG LANGIT

[11:30p.m. August 30//Wednesday, 2000] --- By Reyster and Rey Langit
[Replayed   ---   May 16/Wednesday, 2001 *****[RPN – CHANNEL 9]
II. MAGANDANG GABI BAYAN:  “HEARING OR HEALING”
August 21, 1999 – GUS ABELGAS

 
III. ASSIGNMENT:  “THE HEALING JUDGE”

APRIL 27, 2000 – ATTY./Cong. TEDDY LOCSIN, JR.
 
IV. TV PATROL & PULSO ACTION BALITA:  DISBARMENT VS. COURT ADMINISTRATOR JUSTICE A. L. BENIPAYO

JUNE 23, 2000 – By Josie Sison

 
 (56 Minutes without commercial).

 
V. KONTROBERSYAL: “Psychic Judge”

May 12, 2006, hosted by Mr. Boy Abunda

(15 Minutes without commercial).

 
        On April 6, 2006, the Philippine Supreme Court RELIEVED (separated - it did not dismiss) me from judicial service, and paid me 3 years backwages, by reason of PSYCHOSIS, a medical incapacity - because I allegedly believed in dwarves, angel of death, inflicting sicknesses, healing, prophecy, psychic phenomena and (in writing) predicted the downfall of 13th Philippine President Joseph Estrada (on December, 1998) who was ousted by people power on January 20, 2001. [Vide: Court Decision penned by M. Justice Minita Viray-Chico Nazario, 75 pages, March 31, 2006 in: A.M. No. RTJ-99-1460 <?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" />   http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/mar2006/A.M.%20No.%20RTJ-99-1460.htm.

        This is the FIRST time in world judicial history that this happened. The American and other Constitutions provide for dismissal or removal of judges, jurists and magistrates because of graft, corruption, misconduct, or bad behavior; but resignation - only for those medically incapacitated. In the Philippines, this is the FIRST --- for since 1901, our Court never ever dismissed or removed a judge because of belief in the paranormal, religion and psi. Hence, REUTERS, AFP, AP, ASIAN REPORTER, MSNBC, MY WAY News,  NEW24.com, ABC NEWS ONLINE, GULF TIMES, 7DAYS, AE,  BUZZSPREE.COM, Foreign BLOGGERS, THE DAILY JUDGE, or a total of 1000++ foreign REPORTS, NEWS, BLOGS and 14 Philippine News Headlines, covered - REPORTED – the said LANDMARK DECISION (on April 7 & May 6, 2006, until today).  
Sincerely,
Judge FLORENTINO V. FLORO, JR.,

123 Dahlia, Alido, Malolos, 3000 BULACAN; Tel/#(044) 662-82-03;
(Presiding Judge, Branch 73, RTC, MALABON, NCJR, M.M.]; email  address: judge_florentino_v_floro@yahoo.com
 

Footnotes:


        On April 12, 2006, or 5 days later, after the April 6, 2006 release of the Decision,  the Philippines was shocked by the painful DEATH of Lawyer Atty. Luzviminda D. Puno, former clerk of court of the Supreme Court and wife of Senior Justice Reynato S. Puno, who passed at the St. Luke"s Medical Hospital in Quezon City, PHILIPPINES, due to complications from a heart surgery. She was 65. [Manila Bulletin Online www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/04/13/SP_PROV20060413.html.]

 
          On April 21, May 4, 2006, May 30 and June 30, 2006, I filed by APPEALS:

 (7, 81, 87 & 30 PAGES, respectively) ---
[http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police01_may08_2006; http://www.malaya.com.ph/may08/news4.htm] of the 75 pages March 31, 2006 DECISION.

          IN FAIRNESS, I write / e-mail to you and to all 100++ REPORTERS/bloggers who reported me, because, I want to AIR MY SIDE, regarding my landmark/unprecedented case. Let me therefore, tell you the TRUTH behind the DECISION, and these 100++ WORLD REPORTS/BLOGS, etc.

        TRUTH: I never used the word “DWARVES” in any DECISION, and I never consulted any imaginary dwarf to pen my decisions; my detractors submitted these false evidence or lies to replace me with their political candidate; what I do believe in is: a) in the so-called (my) SPIRIT GUIDES or PROTECTORS: LUIS, is the KING OF ALL KINGS of ELEMENTALS/spirits worldwide (I opine due to his lights, violet and white); and b) he is GOD’s ANGEL (Genesis, Exodus, etc.) - what St. Paul teaches: Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Prophecy and Spiritual Healing. I am GIFTED; I never tried to develop my psychic powers, since these are God’s GIFTs to me - TO HEAL and TO PROPHESY.

         I am not psychotic; the DECISION RULED that I can apply in other government positions that do not require dispensation of justice. I am a victim of INJUSTICE. On September 19, 1995, I stated that Atty. Teresita Cruz-Sison (Judicial and Bar Council Member) would suffer massive STROKE. HER VENGEANCE resulted in the submitting of FALSE EVIDENCE about DWARFS, ANGELS, PSYCHIC PHENOMENA, etc. Here in the Philippines, Judges, Justices are first NOMINATED by the Judicial and Bar Council (who selects 3) and the President of the Philippines appoints a Judge or Justice based on these 3 submissions.

 
         I admit / believe that GOD has chosen me to be the instrument to CLEAN the Philippine Supreme Court and Judiciary of CORRUPTION and abuse of power --- by inflicting illnesses, accidents and bad lucks by my spirit guides. [Our Supreme Court commissioned the Social Weather Station, here, regading the state of judicial corruption and the SWS released the l996 and 2005 surveys that showed – “MORE lawyers nowadays complain of corruption in the judicial system compared to 10 years ago, according to the Social Weather Stations. One out of two lawyers knows of a trial judge in their city or province who has taken a bribe but they did not report it because they

could not prove it, said the SWS”. -http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=1&story_id=25484].

 
          I admit that the controversial DECISION was released as it is, RELIEVING me but PAYING me backwages because I was placed under PREVENTIVE SUSPENSION since July 20,1999 until now, or 7 full years ago; so THE INVESTIGATION TOOK 6 ¾ YEARS, NOT 3 YEARS AS THE 100 world reports/blogs ALL REPORTED. I could not work nor practice my job because of that punishment.
 
        NOW, the judge who was supposed to replace me on 1999, Judge ROSA CASAS REYES (lingering illness), who was appointed as Judge for the neighbor Branch 74, RTC, Malabon,was/ is on SICK LEAVE ---(http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/circulars/2005/adminord_82_2005.htm)
         Assisting Judge Leonido was appointed in her stead. Last year, I was DISCRIMINATED, because, while I was forcibly tested by 5 mental health professionals, plus one psychiatrist, while Judge Rosa Reyes was not even required to be examined by a panel of doctors, so as to RELIEVE her, due to CHEMOTHERAPHY, as required by Philppine Constitution. 

        IN SUM, KARMA and the CURSE as we Catholics and Christians believe in have their own ways in unveiling/revealing the truth; my clerk of court, Atty. Esmeralda G. Dizon, who submitted false evidence about dwarfs and psychic phenomena, to make it appear that I have brain damage, was punished by my spirit guides: now, her first born, GELAY, 12 years old was inflicted with EPILEPSY, with 2x a week LIFE-LONG severe attacks/grave seizures. I admit that my spirit GUIDE LUIS did all these, to impress upon the Philippine Judiciary, that receiving BRIBE money, corruption, evil and abuse of powers, due to lust for glory, cannot remain unpunished in the laws of these UNSEEN, that are more REAL than we ever imagine.

            The PONENTE in this case, Justice MINITA VIRAY CHICO-NAZARIO (the wife of ROD NAZARIO, the former promoter of WBC boxing champion MANNY PACQUIO) was a Sandiganbayan Justice of the Philippines who was promoted Supreme Court Justice on July 24, 2004. She fought so hard for me, and were it not for the many MEDICAL SURGERIES undergone by S.C. Justices, inter alia, due to this vengeance case, I would have been REINSTATED.
 
[http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/man/2004/03/12/news/judge.asks.sc.to.let.nazario.take.oath.and.fill.sc.vacancy.html, http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/hl/hl100068.htm].

 [Please see/click: a) http://gods4suckers.net/archives/2006/05/29/return-of-florentino-v-floro-and-the-three-dwarfs/; b) http://plusultrablog.com/blog/?p=1310#comments, c) http://noumenal.net/hychechora/?p=28, d) http://hokum-balderdash.blogspot.com/2006/05/gods-chosen-one-is-on-loose.html, e) http://iain-a-wilson.livejournal.com/23185.html, f) http://melliebellie16-weirdnews.blogspot.com/2006/05/philippines-jurist-consulting-3.html, g) http://adscam.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/05/where_will_the_.html, h) http://curioustimes.blogspot.com/2006/05/still-crazy-after-all-these-weeks.html, i) http://candysecrets.blogspot.com/2006/05/in-news-judge-asks-magical-dwarves-for.html, j) http://denning.livejournal.com/82787.html, k) http://allchannels.blogspot.com/2006/05/mystic-dwarfs.html, l) http://dingoesattack.livejournal.com/101388.html, m) http://kanectry.blogspot.com/2006/05/forgive-and-forget.html, n) http://www.wunderkabinett.co.uk/damndata/index.php?/archives/313-Dwarves-of-Law.html, o) http://iamtheroof.livejournal.com/19541.html, p) http://www.moonbuggy.org/archive/2006/04/08/judges-psychic-leanings-too-over-the-top/, q) http://arbroath.blogspot.com/2006/06/to-judge-florentino-v-floro-jr-apology.html]. http://www.wunderkabinett.co.uk/damndata/index.php?/archives/373-Dwarves-of-Law-revisited.html

{See: Times On Line, U.K. David Pannick, QC, June 6, 2006, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,28010-2208464,00.html].

See also Justice William Bedsworth’s June 12, 2006 -http://www.acriminalwasteofspace.com/journal_beds.asp
 
Judges and Dwarfs Don't Mix

 
Judges are, by and large, not the flamingos of the justice swamp. Present company excluded, we tend to be temperate, conservative1 and ... well, judicious. For every one of us who wears Hawaiian shirts and cowboy boots to work,2 there are scores wearing rep ties and wing tips. That's just how we are.
 
It's also how we got here. I've been watching this system for 35 years and I've pretty much concluded that the first question — maybe not the most important one, but the first one — the governor asks about any judicial candidate is, "What are the chances I'll ever see this person's name again if I appoint him/her?" Only if the appointments secretary answers, "Zero. No chance. Zip, zilch, nada, bupkis, ain't gonna happen; fuhgeddaboudit" does the process go any further.
 
Because unless the appointments secretary can absolutely guarantee the governor that he will never pick up his morning paper and read, "Judge Arrested for Molesting Sheep," or "Local Jurist Marries 13-Year-Old Cousin," the application goes into the round file faster than a gum wrapper. Governors want their judges to "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God," but mostly they just want them to stay out of the headlines.
 
All of which, of course, makes my own appointment a miracle on the order of Fatima or Lourdes. My name shows up in newspapers and magazines every month. I had already published a book of psychotherapeutic meanderings — like the one you're reading now — by the time I reached Pete Wilson's appointments secretary. I am almost certainly the most over-exposed judge in the history of the state.3 As my colleagues would hasten to point out, I do not fit the profile.
 
Yet here I am. I can only assume I am a Roman Hruska appointment. You remember Roman Hruska. He was the senator from Nebraska who argued in favor of G. Harrold Carswell's confirmation to the United States Supreme Court on the basis that "Even if he was mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they, and a little chance? We can't all be Brandeises and Cardozos and Frankfurters and stuff like that there."4
 
I assume John Davies, who has otherwise acquitted himself spectacularly as appointments secretary for two governors, went back into Pete Wilson's office after interviewing me and said, "They can't all be Brandeises and Cardozos and Frankfurters."5
 
But something about me must have reassured Davies. He required me to submit a copy of my first book while I was under consideration. Having read it, he probably figured I'd already said about all the crazy stuff I could say.6
 
By and large, though, governors tend to regard a tendency to say crazy stuff as a negative quality in a prospective judge. They're looking not so much for "flamboyant and entertaining" as "Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent." Go figure.7
 
So it astounds me that there is a publication called ... so help me ... the Judicial Conduct Reporter. You would not think a group of people chosen in large measure for their ability not to crash and burn on the six o'clock news could support a quarterly magazine devoted entirely to cataloguing their sins. But they do.
 
Honest. I get this thing every three months. It's put out by the American Judicature Society, and exists solely to chronicle the peccadilloes of me and my colleagues, apparently in the futile hope that we will learn from our mistakes.
 
I'll pause here until you stop laughing at the concept of an educable judge.
 
Really, I'm not going to continue until you stop.
 
OK, are you done?
 
Fine.
 
Every quarter the Judicial Conduct Reporter lands on my desk and I put aside whatever I'm working on to read it. Talk about psychotherapy. I start out thinking myself a flawed human being, struggling to get as much right as I can and hoping against hope I won't disappoint the people who put me here. By the time I'm finished, I think I'm ready for the Hall of Fame. Forget Brandeis and Cardozo, I feel like Gandhi. The things other judges are doing make me want to call Davies and ask what took him so long!
 
Usually the Judicial Conduct Reporters have a theme. Usually it's sexual harassment. Sexual harassment seems to be the judicial equivalent of the common cold. But there are other themes: bullying people, inappropriate gifts, ill-advised charitable activities.
 
One of my favorites was "Judicial Road Rage." This was a collection of guys8 who didn't just yell at another motorist or flip them off, but had them arrested. These people actually sent their bailiffs out, or called the sheriff, and had motorists whose driving offended them tossed into the hoosegow. Not just one guy who did that, several of them! A gaggle!
 
At the risk of sounding provincial, most of these do not involve California judges. Whether it reflects strong moral fiber or mere lack of imagination, our judges don't seem as prone to things like making decisions by flipping a coin (summer 2003) or falsely claiming to have won the Medal of Honor (summer 1995).
 
Nor do we talk to imaginary mystic dwarfs.
 
Yep. That's what it says: imaginary mystic dwarfs.
 
Until today, I would not have considered my lack of involvement with imaginary mystic dwarfs a great achievement. Until today, I would not have understood it as a compliment if someone said, "I've got some issues with Bedsworth; about the best thing I can say about him is he doesn't talk to imaginary mystic dwarfs." But today I found out the mystic dwarf thing is grounds for removal of a judge in the Philippines.

 
According to Reuters, "A Philippine judge who claimed he could see into the future and admitted consulting imaginary mystic dwarfs has asked for his job back after being sacked by the country's Supreme Court."
 
Wow. I'm too old to use the word "awesome," but I just don't know how else to describe that. As judicial flameouts go, that's Krakatoa. My hat's off to former-Judge Florentino Floro and his ... uh ... staff.

 
This beats the hell out of anything the Judicial Conduct Reporter's come up with lately. And I just love it. I love it because it appeared when I was right up against my deadline.9 I love it because it makes me feel superior. I love it because I've never previously gotten to type the phrase "imaginary mystic dwarfs." And I love it because the guy is APPEALING!
 
As near as I can determine, he's making this out to be a freedom of religion issue. He says, "They should not have dismissed me for what I believed." Certainly, I can sympathize with that position. The prospect of judges being removed because of their personal belief systems is anathema to all of us.
 
But I think once it's established that you, "told investigators that three mystic dwarfs — Armand, Luis and Angel — helped you carry out healing sessions during breaks in chambers," you gotta expect to trudge through a little grief. I mean, these aren't just your ordinary, garden-variety, run-of-the-mill imaginary mystic dwarfs. These are imaginary mystic healing dwarfs!
 
And you're on a first-name basis with them.
 
You gotta expect the local bar to be a little leery when you tell 'em, "Counsel, I regret that I cannot grant your motion. But if you'll just step into chambers, me and Luis and Armand will use our mystic powers to cure that arthritic knee of yours."
 
You've especially gotta expect it if you're able to see into the future. Reuters doesn't elaborate on just what the judge could see in the future — or whether Armand, Luis and Angel were not only mystic and therapeutic, but precognitive as well — but I'm not sure saying you can see into the future requires much elaboration. Certainly it made Judge Floro's future pretty clear.
 
I have no doubt that if I had told ANY of the lawyers who appeared before me, EVER, that me and the mystic healing dwarfs were gonna cure a little deafness and then go out for a run over the lunch hour and that when we returned we'd have the name of next year's Preakness winner, Davies would have docked me some points.
 
Certainly the Philippine Supreme Court thinks it lowers your score. Although they were very diplomatic about it. According to Reuters, "The Supreme Court said it was not within its expertise to conclude that Floro was insane, but agreed with the court clinic's finding that he was psychotic."
 
I'm not sure just what distinction they were drawing here. They may have been saying, "We're not psychiatrists, so we can't say he's gone stark, staring loony tunes on us, but we certainly agree with the doctors who said it." Or they may have concluded that, in today's world, one psychosis hardly differentiates you from the rest of society; it takes at least two or three to qualify for a diagnosis of insanity.
 
Either way, they confiscated his robe and his ruby slippers and fined him $780.10
 
And, mirabile dictu, Judge Floro is appealing. I don't have a clue who to.11 Who do you appeal to after the Philippine Supreme Court disrobes you? Seems to me, you and the dwarfs have pretty much topped out when you lose in your nation's supreme court. I can't really see The Hague taking this one on.
 
But Judge Floro has vowed an appeal, and, since he can see into the future, I have to assume it's gonna come to pass.
 
And I'm not about to take a chance that I might miss the outcome of this saga. I'm going online as soon as I finish writing this to subscribe to the Philippine Judicial Conduct Quarterly.
 
Then I'm gonna contact the dwarfs and see if they can do anything about my putting.
1 In the true sense of the word; not the one co-opted by self-serving politicians. back
2  And, come to think of it, there may only be one of us. back
3   “An ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine own.” back
4  Honest; he actually said “stuff like that there” on the floor of the United States Senate. back
5  The words “and like that there” could never come out of John Davies' mouth. Mine, yes; John Davies,' never. back
6  “That, General Napoleon, is the little town of Waterloo; it's of no strategic significance.” back
7  I am, generally, cheerful. back
8  Once again, the other gender lags sadly behind. Very few women make the Judicial Conduct Reporter. Apparently there is a glass floor beneath the glass ceiling. back
9  Deadlines are a ... well, having already used the word “hell” in this column, I'll just let you imagine what I think about deadlines. I don't want to show up in the Judicial Conduct Reporter for profanity. That's like going to hell for a dietary violation. back
10  I have no idea how they came up with $780. Maybe that was the cost of the psychiatric evaluation. After all, it couldn't have taken long. back
11  Yeah, I know the grammar is questionable, but how many times in your life do you get a chance to write six consecutive rhyming words? Go ahead, find six consecutive rhyming words in the works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — either of them — I dare you.back
 Posted by William W. Bedsworth on Monday, June 12, 2006 at 18:01 Comments (1)

 
I used to be a judge but I'm all right now . . .
BY DAVID PANNICK QC

 
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,28010-2208464,00.html
 TIMES ONLINE, www.timesonline.co.uk., June 6. 2006.
 
 
 LUNACY on the Bench is not as common as prime ministers and home secretaries stung by judgments critical of their policies like to suggest. The recent decision of the Supreme Court of the Philippines to dismiss Judge Florentino V. Floro Jr as a judge of the Regional Trial Court in Malabon City because of a “medically disabling condition of the mind” that rendered him “unfit to discharge the functions of his office” repays careful consideration by any student of the judiciary.
Judge Floro first applied for appointment to the Bench in 1995. The mandatory psychological evaluation by the Supreme Court Clinic Services (memo to the Lord Chancellor: do not even consider this) revealed “evidence of ego disintegration”. Judge Floro voluntarily withdrew his application. He reapplied in 1998, but the evaluation was again negative, identifying problems with self-esteem and mood swings. But Judge Floro was allowed to rely on a more favourable assessment from private practitioners. He began work as a judge in November 1998.
 
 
The appointment was not a great success. Less than eight months later, the Supreme Court suspended Judge Floro while complaints against him were investigated. It took nearly seven years to complete the inquiries, partly because of the delaying tactics by the judge. In March Justice Chico-Nazario, for a unanimous 14-strong Supreme Court, decided that Judge Floro should be dismissed from the Bench.
In 1890 Mr Justice Stephen became incapable of acting in a judicious manner by reason of mental illness. And in the 1950s, a High Court judge who lost his faculties was persuaded to resign only when no work was assigned to him. But there is, I think, no precedent for Judge Floro’s unusual manner of opening proceedings in his courtroom. A formal, “All rise”, or even a jocular, “Here comes the judge”, might be acceptable. But not the introductory statement to all those present in court that Judge Floro was “a Bar topnotcher” who passed the 1983 Bar Examinations “with an average score of 87.55 per cent”. There would follow a reading from the Bible, after which Judge Floro would answer questions on the scriptural text of the day. The judge’s visiting card also stated that he was a “Bar exams topnotcher (87.55 per cent)” with “full second honours”. As the Supreme Court concluded, litigants might well interpret all this “as a sign of insecurity”.
What caused the Supreme Court most concern, and who can blame them, was Judge Floro’s belief that he enjoyed qualities lacked by other members of the judiciary. Judge Floro is not the first judge to have an inflated opinion of his own abilities, but there are not many who have claimed special powers as “the No 5 psychic in the country”. (The Supreme Court judgment unfortunately provides no information on whether the top four also have legal qualifications and, if so, what marks they obtained in the Bar exams.) In a variation of dress-down Fridays, Judge Floro changed from blue court robes to black each Friday “to recharge his psychic powers”. He was, he suggested, the angel of death and able to inflict pain and sickness on people appearing in his court (a valuable but perhaps disproportionate sanction in dealing with vexatious litigants).
The judge believed that he could write while in a trance, and he had, he insisted, “been seen by several people to have been in two places at the same time”, a very useful attribute in reducing the waiting lists for pending cases. Most impressive of all, Judge Floro had made a covenant with “three dwarf friends named Luis, Armand and Angel”, who would, unseen by others, provide him with assistance in court (presumably when counsel were unable to provide a page reference in the bundles of evidence).
Very generously in the circumstances, the Supreme Court emphasised that it was not ruling that Judge Floro was insane. He was merely suffering from a psychosis that appeared to “cloud his judgment” and so undermined his competence and objectivity. Justice Chico-Nazario concluded that psychic phenomena, “even assuming such exist” (a wise judge never decides more than is necessary to dispose of the case), have no place in jurisprudence. Though it would, I suppose, be helpful to be able accurately to predict how the Supreme Court would deal with a case, and so avoid the expense and delay of waiting for their decisions.
The Supreme Court let Judge Floro down from the Bench as lightly as possible. No one is to blame as “we cannot condemn people for their faulty genes and/or adverse environment — factors they have no control over”. Judge Floro “may be dysfunctional as a judge” but “may still be successful in other areas of endeavour”. Especially, of course, as he can rely on the help of those three dwarf friends.
 
The author is a practising barrister at Blackstone Chambers and a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford

Lowering the Bar Cited as International Precedent

http://www.loweringthebar.net/2006/06/lowering_the_ba.html
As many of you know, I have long had two primary goals for this enterprise:

1. to provide some entertainment for myself and other attorneys (and friends of attorneys) slogging away at their various billing stations, and
   
2. to be cited as authority in a brief filed with the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

Today I can at least be sure that one of those goals has been met.
I mentioned in the "Lowering the Bar" presentation I did two weeks ago that I had heard from Judge Florentino Floro, who I had written about twice before.  You may recall that Judge Floro was dismissed (or "separated") from the bench in Malabon City, a suburb north of Manila, after questions arose about his practices of starting court days with a reading from the Book of Revelations, conducting faith-healing sessions in chambers, and consulting three "mystic dwarves" named Luis, Armand and Angel for advice and predictions of future events.  As Judge Floro was a judge, that seemed to fall within the scope of this project and I did mention him a couple of times.
Judge Floro emailed me (and a number of others who had written about him) a couple of weeks ago, primarily to thank everyone for writing about his case.  He noted that he was appealing his case, forwarded us some pleadings, and was kind enough to answer a few questions.  Here's an (edited) summary of the answers:

LoTB: First, what is the difference between a separation and a dismissal?  Is it possible you could be reinstated?  If so, would you want to be a judge again?  Was it fun to be a judge?
JF:  Dismissal, under our laws, carries with it perpetual disqualification & DISBARMENT. . . . I believe that the laws are in my favor. But, I cannot tell you what will be their votes. . . . I would want to be a judge [again]. It is not fun, since I am honest. I had to wake up 6 am and sleep at 9pm and week ends I pen decisions; it is nightmare. But, my neighbor judges, they come to court, 10 am, deal only with juicy cases and they put in the backburner the not juicy ones; they play golf, 1 pm. This is not an exaggeration, since their staff and fixers do all the jobs.
LoTB: Second, why did the press say that Luis, Armand and Angel were “dwarves”?  Was this a mistranslation of “dwende,” the mischievious spirits believed to reside in anthills (also translated “gnomes”)?  Are they truly of small stature?  Did they help you with your opinions, and if so, do they have any legal training?
JF:  Answer: The names of my spirit guides are Luis, Armand and Angel; they are not the ordinary dwarves, gnomes, leprechauns, vulcans, . . . Luis is the King of Kings of elementals, an angel of God; if you are a Christian, you can read this in genesis,etc. and you can click angels in encyclopedia.com or wikkipedia,etc. . . In Ireland - a Catholic country - they can see dwarfs, but only the ordinary kind. LUIS IS THE KING OF ALL KINGS OF THESE. Usually, they are of small stature, but they only appear to me in the form of lights. TRUTH: I never used the word “DWARVES” in any DECISION, and I never consulted any imaginary dwarf to pen my decisions.  LUIS is highly educated.
LoTB: Third, you stated that you were the fifth-best psychic in the Philippines.  Who do you think are the top four, and do any of them practice law?
JF:  I stated in 1998 that I believe our President Ferdinand Marcos is # 1. . . I specifically have the following gifts: cross of the tongue, lightning teeth, my eyes emit spiritual fires, and my hands emit extreme heat that heals the poorest of the poor (with heat-processed coconut oil). All of us are psychics to a degree but very few can bend spoons. I was gifted with healing, bilocation, exorcism,etc. I graduated 2nd full honors and placed 12th in our 1983 Bar Exams, 87.55% (our Bar exam is the toughest, since many aspirants here who failed 3 x could easily pass your Bar in California, please do not be offended).
LoTB: Fourth, I am very interested to know what verse or verses of the Bible you selected to begin each court day.  One report stated that at least on some days these verses were from the Book of Revelations.  Is that true, and what are your favorite verses from that Book?
JF: In 1998, when I assumed office . . . I asked them to read the Book of revelations, because it is the hardest book but there it is, ALL. My favorite verses of the Bible are ECCLESIASTES, there the philosophy of life’s uselessness and injustice but God will judge everything done in secret. Also, the psalms, on curses on God’s punishment versus evil.
LoTB: Have you seen “The Omen”?  The first one, of course, not the remake.  Do you know (or can you find out) why those in Hollywood would not recognize an original idea these days if Pughe, King of the Dwendes, brought them one on a silver platter?
JF:  I am sorry, I do not see movies, since I concentrate on horse racing, this is my life since 1972, 3 times I tried to be a jockey, but I ended up to be a lawyer. I think I had seen the original one, many years ago, I cant remember. Contrary to the Decision and Reports, I am a horse athlete, ordinary poor man who just rents a house, and I have no car. I live a very simple and financially poor life . . . . I want to buy a horse and to ride, its great fun.  Sincerely, Judge Floro.

Judge Floro and I have corresponded a few times now and he seems to be a very pleasant man who is certainly convinced of the justice of his cause.  (Judge Floro, please let me know if I've misstated anything in this report.)  With his permission, I did talk about him and his case at the presentation a couple of weeks ago.  I think it is fair to say that people were quite interested in the matter, although there is probably not much we can do from halfway around the world.
Or at least that's what I thought.  In a third supplemental pleading that Judge Floro forwarded me last night, I was a little surprised, but proud, to see that he had cited me as one of a number of worldwide authorities on his case.  The pleading starts by reprinting most of an article on the case by Justice William Bedsworth, an associate justice in California's 4th District Court of Appeals, who has his own blog and who frequently publishes articles in the legal papers here as well.  Judge Floro also cites (among others) another California attorney, Lester Hardy; David Pannick, a British attorney; Ken Blanchard, a management and business writer (The One Minute Manager); a French blogger; and Che Vaughn, a tarot reader and clairvoyant who shares her home with "a couple of spirits, some shadow people, some black blobs, one homunculus and a cat."
Also, Lowering the Bar, which gets about two of the thirty pages.  The posts are accurately quoted, I'm pretty sure, and the biographical information on me (from our firm's website) looks right too -- I have to admit, though, that Judge Floro embellished a bit by describing me as a "celebrated" San Francisco lawyer.  My dog is generally excited to see me, but that's about the only celebration I generate.
Judge Floro is asking for reinstatement and about four years' worth of back wages.  As best I can tell from the pleadings, his argument is more or less that he should not have been separated from the bench just because of his beliefs, so long as he served his country and Malabon City in a fair and honorable manner.  That's a fair point -- who would you rather have as a judge: somebody who takes bribes; or an honest guy who happens to have lightning teeth and well-educated spirit friends but can pass the hardest bar exam in the world?  I know my answer.
I have to say though, Judge Floro, I don't know that citing the world's blog posts will add anything to to the heartfelt and very, very lengthy briefing you've already presented to the court.  And you should always be careful when using sarcasm in pleadings, especially somebody else's.  Also, I think a lot of practicing lawyers would suggest that there is life outside the law, and so maybe this is a good time to follow your dream of being more involved with the horses or the world of horse racing.  Having said that, I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do.
Judge Floro's Third Supplemental Brief (filed June 30, 2006) in Microsoft Word format
Justice Bedsworth's Blog -- A Criminal Waste of Space
June 30, 2006 in International Law, Lowering the Bench, Religion,