Duterte allows appointment of judges-at-large to address cases backlog

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure allowing the appointment of judges-at-large as the government moves to address the overload of cases in trial courts across the country.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11459 or the Judges-at-Large Act of 2019 on August 30, a copy of which was shared with the media only Wednesday.

The new law allows the appointment of 100 regional trial judges-at-large, and 50 municipal trial judges-at-large.

It mandated the Supreme Court (SC) to assign the judges-at-large as acting or assisting judges to any regional and municipal trial court in the Philippines “as public interest may require.”

The length of the temporary assignment of the judges-at-large will also be determined by the SC.

Assigned judges-at-large are entitled to the same salaries, privileges, allowances, benefits, and rank and title of a Regional or Municipal Trial court Judge, the law stated. /kga