Judicial Affidavit Rule

SC to Take Up Prosecutors' Request for Deferment of the Judicial Affidavit Rule in Criminal Cases

The Rule, which is meant to address the twin problems of case congestion and delay in the resolution of cases, requires the compulsory use of judicial affidavits of witnesses in lieu of their direct testimonies in all first-level (except as to small claims cases) to third-level courts; investigating officers and bodies authorized by the SC to receive evidence; and special courts and quasi-judicial bodies whose rules of procedure are subject to the SC’sdisapproval. It further requires the parties’ documentary or object evidence to be attached to the judicial affidavits.