Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines

CAYETANO S. ARELLANO
The First Filipino Chief Justice

In 1901, the position of Chief Justice was created by virtue of the establishment of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, according to the Official Gazette. During the said period, it was the President of the United States who had the authority and power to appoint the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Currently, the power to appoint the Chief Justice lies in the hands of the President of the Philippines. The President chooses from a list of three nominees prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC). Aside from the CJ, the Supreme Court shall also compose of fourteen Associate Justices, who shall all be appointed by the Philippine President. It may sit en banc or, in its discretion, in divisions of three, five, or seven members. (Art. VIII, §4)

Accordingly, the CJ and all the members of the Supreme Court are required to have proven competence, integrity, probity and independence; they must be natural-born citizens of the Philippines, at least forty years old, with at least fifteen years of experience as a judge of a lower court or law practice in the country. (Art. VIII, §7) Justices shall hold office during good behavior until they reach the age of seventy years, or become incapacitated to discharge the duties of office. (Art. VIII, §11)

The Chief Justice is considered as the highest official of the Judiciary Department of the country. Cayetano Arellano was the first Chief Justice of the Philippines, who was appointed by the US President William McKinley in June 11, 1901. He served as the Philippine SC Chief Justice until April 1, 1920. Maria Lourdes Aranal-Sereno is now the current and the 24th Chief Justice of the SC. She was sworn into office by President Benigno Aquino III on August 25, 2012.