REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11459
AN ACT CREATING THE POSITIONS FOR JUDGES-AT-LARGE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980," AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Judges-at-Large Act of 2019."
SECTION 2. A new paragraph (n) is inserted in Section 14 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as "The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980," and shall read as follows:
"(n) One hundred (100) positions of Regional Trial Judges-at-Large are created. The duly appointed Regional Trial Judges-at-Large shall have no permanent salas and may be assigned by the Supreme Court as acting or assisting judges to any Regional Trial Court in the Philippines as public interest may require. The said Judges-at-Large are entitled to salaries, privileges, allowances, emoluments, benefits, rank and title of a Regional Trial Judge. The Supreme Court shall determine the length of such temporary assignment: Provided, That the Judicial and Bar Council shall recommend to the President appointees to the Judges-at-Large positions, after...
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
