HIGHLIGHTS: JBC interviews SC associate justice aspirants

MANILA, Philippines – Ten candidates for the post of Supreme Court (SC) associate justice faced questioning and scrutiny by members of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) during the two-day public interviews on Wednesday, November 16, and Thursday, November 17.

They will vie for the posts to be vacated by Associate Justice Jose Perez and Associate Justice Arturo Brion, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 on December 14 and 29, respectively. (READ: JBC set to screen 14 aspirants for SC post)

The candidates for the SC posts were tested on their knowledge of law and jurisprudence, their opinions on recent controversial SC rulings – such as the Marcos burial case – and their thoughts on extrajudicial killings and drug cases in the country.

Read the highlights of each candidate’s interview on Day 1.

Chief public attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta

• JBC grills PAO chief: Read up on SC cases
• PAO chief too close to exec branch? ‘I have shown my independence’
• PAO chief favors tougher adultery penalties on women

Centro Escolar University law school vice dean Rita Linda Ventura Jimeno

• CEU associate law dean to JBC: Yes to Marcos burial

Davao Regional Trial Court Judge Rowena Apao Adlawan

• Davao judge explains to JBC high rate of acquittal in drug cases

CA Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao

• CA justice vows to help enrich jurisprudence on sharia law

Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Samuel Martires

• Sandiganbayan Justice Martires: No courtesy call on Duterte
• Sandigan Justice Martires to JBC: Agree with GMA acquittal
• JBC asks Sandiganbayan justice: Would you grant Enrile’s bail?

Chief state counsel Ricardo Paras

• Chief state counsel: ICC has no jurisdiction on EJKs in Philippines

CA Associate Justice Noel Tijam

• CA justice: Duterte will be the last person to ask favors from judiciary

 

Watch Day 1 of the interviews below.

  

Read the highlights of each candidate’s interview on Day 2.

CA Associate Justice Romulo Borja

• CA justice: Financial security for judges, cut delays to reduce caseload
• CA justice: SC was wrong in Davao aerial spraying ban ruling

 

CA Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier

• CA justice: Drug-related killings not genocide
• CA justice: Highest conviction vs Marcos made by People Power

Lawyer Joseph San Pedro

• JBC: Ready for SC even if lacking in litigation experience?

Watch Day 2 of the interviews below.

 

Seven other aspirants are also gunning for the posts. The candidates whose interviews for the two posts remain valid are CA Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr, CA Associate Justices Jose Reyes Jr, Apolinario Bruselas Jr, Rosmari Carandang, and Stephen Cruz; Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Alex Quiroz; and Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Reynaldo Daway.

The JBC is the constitutional body mandated to screen and vet applicants to the judiciary. (EXPLAINER: How the Judicial and Bar Council works) Its executive committee chairperson is Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez. (READ: Who is Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez of the JBC?)

Applicants undergo psychological testing and public interviews before the JBC makes a shortlist to be submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte.

Under his term, Duterte will get to appoint 10 SC magistrates to replace retiring justices in the next 3 years.

Over the past two years, the High Court has decided on major cases involving notable politicians – such as Grace Poe’s citizenship, the bail plea of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, former president Gloria Arroyo’s plunder case, and more recently, the planned burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery. (READ: How did SC justices vote on major political cases?) – Rappler.com