President Rodrigo Duterte has promoted Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez as his 18th appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, vice Associate Justice Edgardo delos Santos, who chose an optional retirement effective June 30, 2021.
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo officially received Marquez’s appointment papers from Malacanang on Tuesday, and he was scheduled to take his oath at 3 p.m. yesterday.
“We confirm the receipt of the appointment papers of Justice JoseMidas P. Marquez. His oathtaking is scheduled at 3 this afternoon,” SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka said in a text message to reporters.
In Congress, lawmakers welcomed Marquez's appointment, with Bayan Muna Reps. Carlos Zarate and Ferdinand Gaite heaping praises on the former court spokesperson.
The seven-member Judicial and Bar Council had been recommending Marquez among the nominees for SC vacancies since 2018 but he has failed to get the Palace nod until now.
Marquez began his career as a clerk at the Supreme Court and rose from the ranks on the staff of several justices and Chief Justices.
He served as Court Administrator for almost 12 years, longer than retired Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco, who spent five years in the same post prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court.
Delos Santos cited his state of health for leaving his post one year before he was supposed to officially retire on June 12, 2022, when he turns 70.
Last September, Duterte appointed Court of Appeals Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, the second Muslim to be appointed to the 15-member bench since the time of the late President Corazon Aquino.
Dimaampao was appointed to fill the post left open following the appointment of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo as the country’s top magistrate.
When asked about Marquez’s likely replacement as Court Administrator, Hosaka said the Chief Justice and the Court en banc have yet to release a name. (See full story online at manilastandard.net)
“I cannot surmise as to who will be the next Court Administrator. Let us wait for the choice of the Chief Justice and the En Banc. As per the law which created the OCA (Office of the Court Administrator), the Court Administrator is appointed by the CJ,” Hosaka said.
“However, since the same also provides that the Court Ad may be removed by a vote of not less than 8 SC justices, traditionally the imprimatur of the En Banc as to the choice of the Court Ad is also sought,” the SC official stressed.
Zarate said of Marquez: "Long time coming, We trust that as a magistrate now of the High Court, he will continue to support and pursue the long overdue reforms needed in the judiciary, not only in terms of jurisprudence, but, institutional as well, especially in the areas that will advance and protect the rights of our people, the majority poor especially."
Gaite, for his part, said Marquez's "experience as the Court Administrator for the past several years and direct knowledge and interaction with the members of the Supreme Court, appellate courts and trial courts, including the justices, judges and rank-and-file employees places [him] as a worthy member of this esteemed body."
Ako-Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin said Marquez himself had evolved as few other jurists have, particularly because of his many years as Court
Administrator of the Supreme Court – "a vantage point from which he sees how the administration of justice, continuing reform of the courts, and legal ethics can progress to the next higher levels."
"I look forward to working with him as a Member of the Bar and as a public servant, especially on budget oversight during these remaining months of this 18th Congress and on making urgently needed changes to unclog the dockets through deeper resort to mediation, conciliation, and barangay-level administration of justice," Garbin added.