Judiciary - (also known as the judicial system or 'court system) is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. Under the doctrine of the separation of powers,

 the judiciary generally does not make law (that is, in a plenary fashion, which is the responsibility of the legislature) or enforce law (which is the responsibility of the executive), 

but rather interprets law and applies it to the facts of each case. This branch of the state is often tasked with ensuring equal justice under law. It usually consists of a court of final appeal (called the "Supreme court” or "Constitutional court"), together with lower courts.

“The judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such lower courts as

may be established by law.

Judicial power includes the duty of the courts of justice to settle actual controversies

involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable, and to

determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to

lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the

Government.”

Adjudicatory Power◦ To settle actual controversies involving rights◦ To determine whether there has been a

grave abuse of discretion to lack or excess of jurisdiction

Judicial Review◦ Interpret the law and make them binding

judgements◦ Constitutionality of the laws

Incidental Power◦ powers essential for the discharge of their

judiciary function

Final decision maker Highest court of the land

Classes of Courts Constitutional Court◦ Provided by the constitution◦ One Supreme Court

Statutory Courts◦ Creations of law

Legislative

◦ Lower courts Courts below the Supreme Court

Regular◦ Court of Appeals◦ Regional Trial Court

Metropolitan Trial Court Municipal Trial Court Municipal Circuit Trial Court

◦ Shari’a District Court Special◦ Sandiganbayan

Review cases filed against government officials

◦ Court of Tax Appeals Review appeals on the decisions of the BIR

Agencies under the Executive Department performing duties similar to the Judicial Department

Make pronouncements and judgements on certain issues◦ Commission on Elections◦ National Labor Relations Commission◦ Securities and Exchange Commission

◦ They render judgements just like the Judicial Department, yet they form part of the Executive Department

The Supreme Court shall have the following powers:

1. Exercise original jurisdiction over cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and over petitions for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, and habeas corpus.

2. Review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm on appeal or certiorari, as the law or the Rules of Court may provide, final judgments and orders of lower courts.

3. Assign temporarily judges of lower courts to other stations as public interest may require. Such temporary assignment shall not exceed six months without the consent of the judge concerned.

4. Order a change of venue or place of trial to avoid a miscarriage of justice.

5. Promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, pleading, practice, and procedure in all courts, the admission to the practice of law, the integrated bar, and legal assistance to the under-privileged.

6. Appoint all officials and employees of the Judiciary in accordance with the Civil Service Law.

Settle disputes concerning consuls or diplomats◦ They enjoy immunity from domestic suits or

cases Petition for Certiorari◦ Special civil action requesting a lower court

or body to transmit the records to the superior court for review

Prohibition◦ Writ by which the superior court prohibits

the lower court or body to stop further proceedings

Mandamus◦ Order by a superior court to a lower court to

do perform a certain act which it is bound to do so

Quo Warranto◦ Action by the government to recover an

office or franchise from an individual unlawfully holding it

Automatic Review of Cases sentenced by lower court with Reclusion Perpetua or Death Penalty

(1) No person shall be appointed Member of the Supreme Court or any lower collegiate court unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines. A Member of the Supreme Court must be at least forty years of age, and must have been for fifteen years or more, a judge of a lower court or engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines.

(2) The Congress shall prescribe the qualifications of judges of lower courts, but no person may be appointed judge thereof unless he is a citizen of the Philippines and a member of the Philippine Bar.

(3) A Member of the Judiciary must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence.

Natural-born Philippine citizen At least 40 years old At least 15 years experience of being Judge

at the lower court or engaged in the practice of law

Person of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence

For lower court Judges, natural-born citizenship requirement is not necessary

(1) The Members of the Supreme Court and judges of lower courts shall be appointed by the President from a list of at least three nominees preferred by the Judicial and Bar Council for every vacancy. Such appointments need no confirmation.

(2) For the lower courts, the President shall issued the appointment within ninety days from the submission of the list.

“The Members of the Supreme Court and judges of the lower court shall hold office during good behaviour until they reach

the age of seventy years or become incapacitated to discharge the duties of their office. The Supreme Court en banc

shall have the power to discipline judges of lower courts, or order their dismissal by a

vote of majority of the Members who actually took part in the deliberations on

the issues in the case and voted in thereon.”

The Supreme Court shall be composed of a Chief Justice and fourteen Associate Justices. It may sit en banc or in its discretion, in division of three, five, or seven Members. Any vacancy shall be filled within ninety days from the occurrence thereof.

All cases involving the constitutionality of a treaty, international or executive agreement, or law, which shall be heard by the Supreme Court en banc, and all other cases which under the Rules of Court are required to be heard en banc, including those involving the constitutionality, application, or operation of presidential decrees, proclamations, orders, instructions, ordinances, and other regulations, shall be decided with the concurrence of a majority of the Members who actually took part in the deliberations on the issues in the case and voted thereon.

(3) Cases or matters heard by a division shall be decided or resolved with the concurrence of a majority of the Members who actually took part in the deliberations on the issues in the case and voted thereon, and in no case without the concurrence of at least three of such Members. When the required number is not obtained, the case shall be decided en banc: Provided, that no doctrine or principle of law laid down by the court in a decision rendered en banc or in division may be modified or reversed except by the court sitting en banc.

Composed of 15 Judges Chief Justice Appointed by the President Hearing Procedure◦ In performance of their job, are they required to always

meet as a single group of 15?◦ Due to the huge volume of pending cases filed at them

En banc Divisions of three members (5 divisions) Divisions of five members (3 divisions) Divisions of seven members (2 divisions)

- Gravity and importance of the case- At least three judges agreeing

Constitutionality Issues◦ treaty, international law, executive agreement,

laws◦ presidential decrees, proclamations, and orders

Majority of the members of the judiciary who participated in the hearing

If majority votes were not obtained, constitutionality is upheld 15 members – quorum is 8 – votes required is

only 5

Administrative proceedings for the dismissal of a judge of a lower court

Cases where majority vote is not obtained at the lower courts◦ Division with 3 members◦ Majority vote is equals to?

3 votes

◦ What will happen if two judges agreed, the other disagreed? Case will be decided by en banc

Modifying decisions in cases decided in an en banc session