Judges, clerks cited for excellence

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MANILA, Philippines–The judiciary has commended the outstanding judges and clerks of court who were cited on the 23rd anniversary of the Judicial Excellence Awards (JEA), extolling their roles in moving judicial reform forward and for being diligent in their duties.

Before the award ceremonies last Friday, the Supreme Court announced this year’s four winners, who join the roster of awardees since 1991 when the awards were initiated by the Society for Judicial Excellence (SJE) in hopes of “restoring the image of the judiciary.”

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Angelene Mary Quimpo-Sale received the Chief Justice Cayetano Award for Outstanding Second Level Court Judge, for having “significantly contributed to judicial reform.”

Quimpo-Sale was also cited as the Outstanding Trial Court Judge for First Level Courts in 2006, being the “select few” to have won both excellence awards.

Quimpo-Sale helped draft the Rules of Procedure on Small Claims Cases. As a member of the Quezon City Council for the Protection of Children, she has delivered lectures on juvenile justice in 142 barangays (villages) of the city.

Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 17 Judge Phoeve Meer was cited as Outstanding First Level Court Judge for being a “champion of the benefits of Judicial Dispute Resolution,” helping unclog court dockets.

The SJE also cited two clerks of court for being “dedicated, diligent, hardworking and honest.”

They were Dara Mallorca-Tormes of Camarines Sur RTC Branch 57 and Lea Tablarin of Manila MTC Branch 28.–Tarra Quismundo