No round collar shirts, loud colors, and mini skirts, and no one must answer a phone call in public areas of the courts.
This was the order of Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin to court employees.
Bersamin made the call during his visit to the Quezon City Hall of Justice last Wednesday. He said judges, justices and court employees should always wear decent and presentable clothes.
“It is high time we went back to that image of the judiciary that is very respected, the Judiciary that is conscious of its place in the society,” Bersamin said.
“Ako rin ay nakikiusap, yung dress code, wala na pong t-shirt. Kung kayo mga babae at meron kayong collarless na shirt, may blazer. Maliit na pakiusap yan sa inyo…please do it for my sake,” Bersamin said.
(I am appealing for everyone to follow the dress code. No T-shirts. If you are female, wear a blazer over a collarless shirt. This is a small request…please do it for my sake.)
“Then, if you are a male member of the judiciary, may collar dapat ang suot nyo and no loud colors please (please wear shirts with collar and no loud colors, please),” he added.
The Chief Justice also told court employees that they should not be seen using their cellular phones in public areas of the court such as corridors, lobbies, and elevators.
“If ever a cellphone rings and you are to answer, please go inside the room, conceal yourself from the public, and respond to the text cellphone call,” he said.
He also reminded court officials and employees to avoid shouting in public areas.
“I do not want to hear people saying that the people from the judiciary are uneducated and ill-mannered,” he added. /ee