Supreme Court. Courtesy: Supreme Court
Five of the Supreme Court’s most senior associate justices have been invited to join the race to succeed Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, who is set to retire in November.
The Judicial and Bar Council said Tuesday it extended invitations to Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justices Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, Ramon Paul Hernando, Henri Jean Paul Inting and Rodil Zalameda.
Gesmundo is scheduled to reach the compulsory retirement age on Nov. 6, creating a vacancy at the helm of the country’s highest court.
The JBC opened applications and nominations for the position on Saturday as it begins the process of screening potential candidates for the next chief justice.
Applicants have until 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 to submit their applications and documentary requirements.
The five invited justices would still have to formally apply if they want to be considered. Their inclusion in the JBC invitation is based on seniority rather than an automatic nomination to the post.
Under the Constitution, the JBC screens candidates for judicial vacancies and submits a shortlist of qualified nominees to the President, who makes the appointment.
The council also vets candidates for vacancies in the Office of the Ombudsman and membership in the Legal Education Board.
Since the early 2000s, the JBC has made it a practice to invite the Supreme Court’s five most senior associate justices whenever the chief justice position becomes vacant, describing the practice as being done “as a matter of courtesy and in recognition of their seniority.”
