Creating 150 judges-at-large posts seen to give SC flexibility

MANILA, Philippines — The signing into law of the measure allowing the appointment of 150 judges-at-large would give the Supreme Court “the needed flexibility” in assigning judges, Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez said Sunday.

Marquez made the remark after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Judges-at-Large Act of 2019 (Republic Act No. 11459) in a move to address the high number of cases pending in trial courts nationwide.

“We still have areas where the courts are overburdened,” Marquez said in a statement.

“We can easily assign judges-at-large as assisting judges. We can also temporarily assign them to vacant courts as acting presiding judges while we wait for the appointment and assumption of the permanent judges therein,” he added.

Under the law, 100 regional trial court judges-at large and 50 municipal trial court judges-at-large will be appointed.

The Supreme Court is tasked with assigning the judges-at-large as acting or assisting judges to regional and municipal courts “as public interest may require.”

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

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