Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen is expected to serve as acting chief justice of the Supreme Court following the retirement of Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo. Supreme Court spokesperson Atty. Camille Sue Mae Ting confirmed the transition, noting that the position of acting chief justice is typically filled by the senior associate justice.
Chief Justice Gesmundo, the 27th person to hold the office, will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 on November 6, 2026. His departure will initiate the constitutional process for selecting a successor. Under the 1987 Constitution, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is required to appoint a new chief justice within 90 days of the vacancy. The Judicial and Bar Council is tasked with submitting a list of at least three candidates to the President for consideration.
Gesmundo was appointed as an associate justice in 2017 and assumed the role of chief justice in 2021. During his tenure, he focused on judicial modernization, notably through the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations, which introduced digital technology, electronic filing systems, and procedural reforms.
In addition to the vacancy created by Gesmundo’s retirement, Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier is scheduled to retire on November 16, 2026. This will result in a second opening within the 15-member tribunal.
Article source: tribune.net.ph | Image credit: tribune.net.ph