SC stops CJ from appointing judicial execs

The Supreme Court has formally laid down the rule prohibiting the Chief Justice from unilaterally appointing ranking administrative officials, which was one of the issues raised against ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

In a resolution issued last week, the Supreme Court said the chief magistrate had no power to app oint administrative officials with judicial ranks as it ruled on the case of former Philippine Judicial Academy (Philja) official Brenda Mendoza.

Sereno had appointed Mendoza as chief of office for Philja’s Philippine Mediation Center in June 2016.

Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro issued an internal memorandum in July last year questioning Sereno’s appointment of Mendoza for supposedly bypassing the rest of the high court.

The justices upheld De Castro’s argument that only the court as a whole can appoint who will sit in judicial positions with Salary Grade 29 and above.

Mendoza’s position falls under Salary Grade 30.

“This court’s nature as a collegial body requires that the appointing power be exercised by the court en banc consistent with Article VIII, Section 1 of the Constitution,” read the resolution.