Lawyers aren't expected to be saints

In Perfecto v. Judge Esidera, the Supreme Court held that lawyers are not and should not be expected to be saints. "What they do as citizens of their faiths are beyond this court's power to judge. Lawyers, however, are officers of court. They are expected to care about and sustain the law. This court's jurisdiction over their actions is limited to their acts that may affect public confidence in the Rule of Law. Our state has secular interests to protect. This court cannot be expected to condone misconduct done knowingly on account of religious freedom or expression." (A.M. NO. RTJ-15-2417, July 22, 2015)