Judicial and Bar Council Submits Supreme Court Nominees
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has formally submitted its list of 12 nominees to fill the upcoming vacancy for the Supreme Court associate justice post. This opening will arise on June 4 following the compulsory retirement of Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez. The list of nominees was handed to President Marcos, marking a significant step in selecting his first appointee to the 15-member Supreme Court, the highest judicial body in the country.
Nominees for the Supreme Court Associate Justice Position
According to sources familiar with the matter, the nominees include prominent figures from various courts. The list features Court of Appeals Associate Justices Nina Geluz Antonio-Valenzuela, Ramon M. Bato Jr., Ramon A. Cruz, Maria Elisa Sempio Diy, Myra V. Garcia-Fernandez, Fernanda Lampas Peralta, and Ronaldo Roberto B. Martin. Also nominated are Solicitor General Darlene Marie Basco Berberabe, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl B. Miranda, Court of Tax Appeals Associate Maria Rowena M. San Pedro, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Walter S. Ong, and Supreme Court Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva.
Appointment Process and Timeline
The Constitution mandates that the President must appoint a replacement within 90 days from the date the vacancy occurs. The JBC submitted the list through an official letter dated May 30, which was received by the President the same day. The letter was signed by the Chief Justice as the ex-officio chairperson of the JBC, along with other key members of the council.
The Role of the Judicial and Bar Council
The JBC serves as a constitutional body responsible for accepting, screening, and nominating candidates for various judicial positions. Aside from Supreme Court appointments, it also handles nominations for the Office of the Ombudsman, its deputies and special prosecutors, as well as members of the Legal Education Board. This ensures a transparent and merit-based selection process for vital roles within the judiciary.
As the appointment decision approaches, many await the President’s choice, which will shape the judiciary’s direction in the coming years. The selection will not only fill the vacancy but also potentially influence the court’s decisions on key legal issues nationwide.
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