Nominees for Supreme Court Chief Justice

Chief Justice Supreme Court

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) will be convening next week to discuss the current vacant position in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice position. The JBC is responsible for the selection of nominees in the Supreme Court. The meeting next week is expected to focus on how they will conduct the selection process since there is a clamor to make it public. Others also want JBC to enforce new rules and stringent rules in nominating the next Chief Justice of the Philippines.

Who are the Nominees for Chief Justice?

The 5 most senior Associate Justices are automatically nominated for the vacant position. And the most senior is Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio. Others in the list are Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, Arturo Brion, Presbitero Velasco Jr. and Diosdado Peralta. But under the law, the JBC should also accept applications or nominations from outside of the Supreme Court. Several sources revealed that many allies of President Aquino might be nominated for the Chief Justice position.

One name that could be in the list in the nomination process is DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima. Though she admits she is still needed in the department but she also said that she will not refuse if nominated in the position.

Another possible candidate for the CJ position is BIR Commissioner Kim Henares. Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza is also being eyed for the position. The names of Senator Franklin Drilon and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano also came out. Other nominees or applicants may come out when the JBC meet next week.

Composition of the JBC

Ex officio chairman:
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Ex officio members:
Secretary of Department of Justice
Representative of the Congress
Representative of the Integrated Bar
Retired member of the Supreme Court
Representative of the private sector

Qualification for the Chief Justice Position

To become a Supreme Court justice or Chief Justice, nominees must be natural born citizen of the Philippines. He or she must be practicing law in the country for at least 15 years or a judge in a court of record for at least 15 years.

As regards to age, a nominee should be at least 40 years old. The applicant should possess/show proven competence, probity, integrity and independence.

The vacancy in the Supreme Court should be filled within 90 days. The President will be choosing from the list of nominees short listed by the Judicial and Bar Council.


Update on the names of Chief Justice nominees:

outsiders:
1. Atty. Katrina Legarda
2. Solicitor-General Francis Jardeleza
3. Ateneo De Manila College of Law Dean Cesar Villanueva