JBC opens applications for SC, Court of Appeals positions

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has announced the opening of applications for positions at the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.

Lucky applicants are set to occupy the position to be vacated by SC Associate Justice Jose Reyes Jr., who will compulsorily retire on September 18, as well as the post of former CA Presiding Justice Romeo Barza, who retired on August 2, 2019.

To begin the process, applicants should fill out the Online Application Scheduler in the JBC website and submit digitized versions of their letter of intent and documentary requirements through email on their selected date and time of appointment in the scheduler.

Applicants are likewise required to submit two sets of the documentary requirements through courier service not later than 4:30 p.m. of July 7, 2020 to the JBC's office at the SC's Centennial Building along Padre Faura Street in Manila.

According to Rule 8 of the 2020 Revised JBC rules, applicants for the position of Associate Justice or Chief Justice of the SC must have at least 2.5 years remaining to serve if they have already served as Associate Justice or Presiding Justice of an appellate court, Court Administrator, Chairperson of a Constitutional Commission, Solicitor General, or Department Secretary.

Likewise, applications for the same positions must also have at least five years remaining to serve if they had not served any of the positions mentioned or if they are private practitioners.

Applicants who fail to make the online and physical submissions of the requirements will not be considered for nomination.

At the same time, the JBC has also set on May 28 at 10 a.m. the online public interview of candidates for the SC associate justice position vacated by former Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr., who retired just last May 11.

The following candidates are:

• Ramon Bato Jr.
• Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla
• Edwin Sorongon
• Nina Antonio-Valenzuela

The previous interview of the following candidates for the same position are still valid, JBC said referring to:

• Manuel Barrios
• Amparo Cabotaje-Tang
• Ramon Cruz
• Japar Dimaampo
• Jhosep Lopez
• Jose Midas Marquez
• Eduardo Peralta Jr.
• Pablito Perez
• Ricardo Rosario

The JBC screens applicants to the judiciary and votes on a shortlist of nominees for endorsement to the President, the appointing authority. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News