JBC endorses five candidates for chief justice, 11 nominees for associate justice to President Marcos

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has endorsed five candidates for chief justice and 11 nominees for Supreme Court associate justice to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., ahead of the mandatory retirement of two members of the high court.

In a recent statement, the JBC confirmed that it had transmitted the two shortlists to the President, who will choose the successors of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier.

The five Supreme Court magistrates vying for the chief justice post are Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Rodil Zalameda, Japar Dimaampao and Jose Midas Marquez.

Associate Justices Ramon Paul Hernando and Henri Jean Paul Inting, who were also nominated for the position, withdrew their acceptance of their nominations before the council finalized the shortlist.

For the associate justice vacancy, the JBC included the following 11 candidates:

- Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ramon Bato Jr.

- Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe

- Commission on Audit Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba

- Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ramon Cruz

- Court of Appeals Associate Justice Maria Elisa Sempio Diy

- Court of Appeals Associate Justice Myra Garcia-Fernandez

- Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Fernanda Lampas Peralta

- Commission on Elections Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr.

- Court of Appeals Associate Justice Ronaldo Roberto Martin

- Court of Appeals Associate Justice Walter Ong

- Court of Tax Appeals Associate Justice Maria Rowena San Pedro

The selection process for chief justice candidates began with the JBC's announcement of applicants on October 17. Panel interviews were subsequently held at the Supreme Court's En Banc Session Hall on October 22 and 26.

For the associate justice position, the council announced the applicants on October 8 and conducted interviews on October 13 and 15.

Under Article VIII, Section 4(1) of the 1987 Constitution, the President is given 90 days from the occurrence of a vacancy to appoint a replacement from the list of nominees submitted by the JBC.

Gesmundo is scheduled to reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 on November 6, while Lazaro-Javier is due to retire on November 16.