Judges-at-Large Act of 2019

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 11459 (Judges-at-Large Act of 2019)

Creation of Judges-at-Large Positions
- 100 positions of Regional Trial Judges-at-Large created (Section 2)
• No permanent salas, assigned by Supreme Court as acting/assisting judges to any Regional Trial Court as needed
• Entitled to salaries, privileges, allowances, emoluments, benefits, rank and title of a Regional Trial Judge
• Supreme Court determines length of temporary assignment
• Judicial and Bar Council recommends appointees to the President
- 50 positions of Municipal Trial Judges-at-Large created (Section 4)
• No permanent salas, assigned by Supreme Court as acting/assisting judges to any first level court as needed
• Entitled to salaries, privileges, allowances, emoluments, benefits, rank and title of a Municipal Trial Court in Cities judge
• Supreme Court determines length of temporary assignment
• Judicial and Bar Council recommends appointees to the President

Qualifications for Judges (Sections 3 and 5)
- Regional Trial Judges and Regional Trial Judges-at-Large:
• Natural-born Filipino citizen
• At least 35 years old
• Engaged in law practice in the Philippines for at least 10 years or held public office requiring admission to the practice of law
- Municipal Trial Judges, Municipal Circuit Trial Judges, and Municipal Trial Judges-at-Large:
• Natural-born Filipino citizen
• At least 30 years old
• Engaged in law practice in the Philippines for at least 5 years or held public office requiring admission to the practice of law

Salaries and Longevity Pay (Sections 6 and 7)
- Salaries and allowances of judges determined by the President based on guidelines set forth in Letter of Implementation No. 93 pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 985, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1597
- Monthly longevity pay of 5% of monthly basic pay for every 5 years of continuous, efficient, and meritorious service in the Judiciary, capped at the salary of the next higher rank

Funding and Implementation (Sections 8 and 9)
- Funding for implementation charged against available appropriations of the Judiciary under the current General Appropriations Act
- Supreme Court, in consultation with the Secretary of Budget and Management, shall promulgate necessary rules and regulations within 60 days from approval of the Act

Separability Clause and Effectivity (Sections 10 and 11)
- If any provision is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect
- The Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation