[ Act No. 1919, May 19, 1909 ]

AN ACT AMENDING SECTION THIRTY-FOUR OF ACT NUMBERED ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY, ENTITLED "AN ACT PROVIDING A CODE OF PROCEDURE IN CIVIL ACTIONS AND SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS," BY REQUIRING CERTAIN CONDITIONS IN ORDER THAT PERSONS NOT DULY AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE LAW MAY APPEAR FOR AND DEFEND OTHER PERSONS IN JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS.

By authority of the United States, be it enacted by the Philippine Legislature, that:

SECTION 1.  Section thirty-four of Act Numbered One hundred and ninety, entitled "An Act providing a Code of Procedure in Civil Actions and Special Proceedings in the Philippine Islands," is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 34. Employment of lawyers not required.—Any party may of the peace courts conduct his litigation in a court of a justice of the peace in person or with the aid of an agent or friend appointed  by him for that persons not  duly purpose, or with the aid of a lawyer: Provided, however, That no person not duly authorized to practice law may engage in the occupation of appearing for or defending other persons in justice of the peace courts without first being authorized for that purpose by the judge of the Court of First Instance of the district within which the justice of the peace court is situated.   Such authority shall only be granted to a person who is a citizen of the Philippine Islands, or of the United States, twenty-one years of age, of good moral character, and who possesses the necessary qualifications of learning and ability.   The persons so authorized may charge  for their services a reasonable compensation, which shall not exceed five pesos for all services rendered in any one criminal or civil case.  The judge of the Court of First Instance may at any time suspend any person so authorized, or may revoke the authority given him to engage in such occupation, when in his judgment there exists sufficient grounds for such suspension or removal,  opportunity being first given such person to be heard in his own defense.   In any other court a party may conduct his litigation personally or by the aid of a lawyer and his appearance must be either personal or by the aid of a duly authorized member of the bar."
SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect on July first, nineteen hundred and nine.

Enacted, May 19, 1909.