ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO.

35-96 March 12, 1996

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 35-96 March 12, 1996

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE JUDICIAL ACADEMY (PHILJA)
WHEREAS, the Constitution mandates that members of the Judiciary must be of
proven competence, integrity, probity and independence, and assures all persons
the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial bodies;
WHEREAS, competence and integrity in the Judiciary can be enhanced and
maintained, and the right of the people to speedy, honest and scholarly
disposition of their cases assured, through an institutionalized, integrated,
professionalized and continuing system of judicial education for justices, judges,
court personnel and lawyers;
WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the constitutional repository of
judicial power and administrator of all courts, has both the duty and the power to
pursue its constitutional missions and ideals through the creation of a Judicial
Academy staffed by those most qualified to serve from the Bench and the Bar.
NOW, THEREFORE
Sec. 1. Establishment. The Supreme Court hereby establishes the Philippine
Judicial Academy (PHILJA) which shall be charged with the formulation and
implementation of a continuing program of judicial education for justices, judges,
court personnel and lawyers.
Sec. 2. Organization. The Academy shall be a unit of the Supreme Court.
Sec. 3. Governing Board. The Academy shall have a Governing Board
composed of the Chief Justice as ex-officio Chairman, the Senior Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court as ex-officio Vice-Chairman, the Presiding Justice
of the Court of Appeals, the Court Administrator, the President of the Philippine
Association of Law Schools, and the Chancellor of the Academy as ex-officio
members; and an incumbent Regional Trial Court Judge who has served as such
for at least five years and has taught in a reputable law school for the same
number of years, as appointive member.
The Appointive member chosen and designated by the Supreme Court shall
serve for a term of one calendar year, and may be reappointed for another term.
The ex-officio members of the Governing Board shall serve as such for the
duration of their incumbency in their respective officers.
Sec. 4. Executive Officials. The Executive Officials of the Academy shall be
composed of a Chancellor, a Vice-Chancellor and an Executive Secretary, to be
appointed by the Supreme Court for a term of two (2) years with no limit to
subsequent extension or reappointment.
For purposes of retirement privileges, seniority, and other benefits, service of the
Executive Officials in the Academy may be considered by the Supreme Court as
service in the Judiciary, except in cases prohibited by law.
(a) The Chancellor shall have the compensation of an Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court.
(b) The Vice-Chancellor shall have the compensation of an Associate Justice of
the Court of Appeals.
(c) The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor shall have as requisite qualifications,
unless otherwise provided by the Supreme Court, meritorious service as member
of a collegiate appellate court for at least five (5) years, or as Regional Trial Court
Judge for least ten (10) years, and, in all these instances, meritorious service as
teacher of law in a reputable law school for at least five (5) years.
(d) The Executive Secretary shall have the same requisite qualifications and the
same compensation as a Regional Trial Court Judge. He shall serve on a full
time basis and shall be the ex-officio Recorder-Secretary of the Governing
Board.
(e) The Executive Officials may not engage in the private practice of any
profession.
Sec. 5. Corps of Professors. The Academy shall be staffed by a Corps of
Professors. The professors shall be nominated by any member of the Governing
Board, which nomination shall be submitted upon a majority vote of the Board to
the Supreme Court for approval and formal appointment for a term of two (2)
years.
Sec. 6. Courses and Publications. The academic courses and the publication
of a Judicial Journal and other legal writings shall be determined by the
Chancellor in consultation with the Corps of Professors and approved by the
Governing Board.
Sec. 7. Classification of Participation. The bases for the classification of
seminar participation shall be length of service, place of assignment, age of the
participants, subject-matter and similar logical criteria.
Sec. 8. Graduates. The graduates of the Academy shall be issued certificates
of attendance with coded serial numbers.
The Judicial and Bar Council is expected to give preference to graduates of the
Academy in its nominations for appointment to and promotion in the Judiciary, all
other requisite standards being equal.
Sec. 9. Funding. The Academy shall be funded: (a) by budgetary sources; (b)
from the Supreme Court budgetary allocation for conferences, seminars, and
educational training of justices, judges, and other officials and employees of the
Judiciary; and (c) from other sources.
Sec. 10. Site. The Academy shall be located at Tagaytay City.
Sec. 11. Existing Programs. All existing programs for orientation, career
development and continuing judicial education being undertaken by the Court
through the Office of the Court Administrator are hereby assigned to the
Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) which shall coordinate with the Institute of
Judicial Administration of the University of the Philippines whenever necessary or
appropriate.
Sec. 12. Effectivity. This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.
March 12, 1996.
(Sgd.) ANDRES R. NARVASA
Chief Justice
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