[ BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, August 14, 1981 ] AN ACT REORGANIZING THE JUDICIARY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Be it enacted by the Batasang Pambansa in session assembled:
PRELIMINARY CHAPTER
SECTION 1. Title.—This Act shall be known as "The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980."
SEC. 2. Scope.—The reorganization herein provided shall include the Court of Appeals, the Courts of First Instance, the Circuit Criminal Courts, the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts, the Courts of Agrarian Relations, the City Courts, the Municipal Courts, and the Municipal Circuit Courts.
Chapter I.—THE INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT
SEC. 3. Organization.—There is hereby created an Intermediate Appellate Court which shall consist of a Presiding Appellate Justice and forty-nine Associate Appellate Justices who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines. The Presiding Appellate Justice shall be so designated in his appointment, and the Associate Appellate Justices shall have precedence according to the dates of their respective appointments, or when the appointments of two or more of them shall bear the same date, according...
Summary of The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 (Batas Pambansa Blg. 129)
Preliminary Chapter
- Title: The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980 (Section 1)
- Scope: Reorganization of the Court of Appeals, Courts of First Instance, Circuit Criminal Courts, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts, Courts of Agrarian Relations, City Courts, Municipal Courts, and Municipal Circuit Courts (Section 2)
Chapter I - The Intermediate Appellate Court
- Creation of an Intermediate Appellate Court with a Presiding Appellate Justice and 49 Associate Appellate Justices appointed by the President (Section 3)
- The Court exercises its powers through 10 divisions of 5 members each, sitting en banc only for non-adjudicatory functions (Section 4)
- Provisions on succession to the Office of Presiding Appellate Justice, presiding over division sessions, and qualifications of Justices (Sections 5-7)
- Grouping of divisions into Civil Cases, Criminal Cases, and Special Cases Divisions (Section 8)
- Jurisdiction: original jurisdiction to issue writs, annul judgments of Regional Trial Courts, and exclusive appellate jurisdiction over final judgments of Regional Trial Courts and quasi-judicial agencies (Section 9)
- Permanent station in Manila, with authority to hold sessions elsewhere (Sections 10-11)
- Authority to promulgate internal rules (Section 12)
Chapter II - Regional Trial Courts
- Creation of 13 Regional Trial Courts, one for each judicial region, with specified number of branches and locations (Sections 13-14)
- Qualifications for Regional Trial Judges (Section 15)
- Time and duration of sessions, with provisions for motion days (Section 16)
- Appointment, assignment, and authority to define territorial jurisdiction of branches (Sections 17-18)
- Jurisdiction in civil cases, criminal cases, original jurisdiction in other cases, and appellate jurisdiction (Sections 19-22)
- Special jurisdiction to try special cases and application of special rules of procedure (Sections 23-24)
Chapter III - Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts
- Establishment of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (Section 25)
- Qualifications for judges (Section 26)
- Composition and branches of Metropolitan Trial Court of Metro Manila (Section 27)
- Provisions for other Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (Sections 28-31)
- Jurisdiction in criminal cases and civil cases, including delegated jurisdiction in cadastral and land registration cases (Sections 32-34)
- Special jurisdiction in certain cases and summary procedures in special cases (Sections 35-36)
- Authority to conduct preliminary investigation and issue warrants of arrest (Section 37)
- Provisions on judgments and processes (Section 38)
Chapter IV - General Provisions
- Period for appeal and requirements for appeals (Section 39)
- Form of decision in appealed cases (Section 40)
- Salaries and longevity pay for Justices and Judges (Sections 41-42)
- Staffing pattern to be submitted by the Supreme Court (Section 43)
- Transitory provisions for the reorganization, transfer of cases, personnel, and funding (Section 44)
- Inclusion of Shari'a Courts in funding appropriations (Section 45)
- Gratuity for judges and personnel separated from office (Section 46)
- Repealing clause for inconsistent laws (Section 47)
- Date of effectivity (Section 48)
