Sereno to lead JBC meet for first time

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), to be presided over for the first time by new Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, will meet Monday to tackle vacancies in the courts, possibly including the associate justice seat she recently vacated.

It will be the first time the eight-member JBC is meeting after it searched for a replacement for ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Monday’s meeting will see the return to the council of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who was included in the list of candidates for the top Supreme Court post.

De Lima, who represents the executive branch in the JBC, took a leave during the council’s proceedings.

In a statement she issued last week, Sereno appealed for “patience” as she tackled administrative matters in the high court, including court vacancies.

“She will be announcing the priorities and target schedule for the filling of the vacancies as soon as the JBC meets (Monday),” De Lima said.

Jose Mejia, who represents the academe in the JBC, said the meeting Monday had been set before President Benigno Aquino announced the appointment of Sereno as Chief Justice.

“The agenda had been earlier set for the council to discuss the vacancies in the lower courts and the position of associate justice in the Supreme Court,” Mejia said in a phone interview. Christine O. Avendaño