POL101 THE JUDICIARY
I. Philippine Court System
A. Review Courts
Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
B. Trial Courts
Regional Trial Court
Provincial Regional Trial Court
Metro Manila Regional Trial Court
Metropolitan Trial Court
Municipal Trial Court
Municipal Circuit Trial Court
C. Special Courts
Court of Tax Appeals
Sandiganbayan
II. Supreme Court
A. Review Courts
III. The Supreme Court of the Philippines
(Filipino: Kataas-taasang Hukuman ng Pilipinas or Korte Suprema)
The Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort
Consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice
Has "administrative supervision over all courts and the personnel thereof"
B. Requirements for Appointment
Natural-born citizenship
At least 40 years old
Must have been for fifteen years or more:
A judge of a lower court or
Engaged in the practice of law in the Philippines
Must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence
Vacancies (Chief or Associate Justice) are filled by the President from a list of at least 3 nominees by the Judicial and Bar Council
C. Judicial Functions
Section 1, Article VIII:
Judicial power includes settling actual controversies involving legally demandable/enforceable rights
Determining grave abuse of discretion by any branch or instrumentality of government
Reaffirms power of judicial review
Weakens political question doctrine
Grave abuse of discretion can nullify state action
D. Administrative Functions
Supervision and control over judiciary and bar
Can:
Change venue to avoid miscarriage of justice
Appoint all judiciary officials and employees
Promulgate rules on:
Law practice
Legal aid
Court procedure
E. Court Sessions and En Banc
May sit:
En banc
In divisions of 3, 5, or 7 (normally 3 divisions of 5)
En banc is required for:
Constitutionality of treaties, agreements, decrees, laws, etc.
Tie or deadlock in division rulings
Important/reversal-precedent cases
F. Appellate Review
Most cases reach SC through appeal
Appeals come from:
Trial courts → Court of Appeals → Supreme Court
Sometimes directly to SC if only "questions of law" are involved
Also reviews:
Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, and Court of Tax Appeals
Administrative agencies → must first go through CA
Commission on Elections → can be reviewed directly
Review is not a matter of right, but discretion
Reviews for "error of law", not fact (with exceptions)
SC refuses cases that should be at lower courts
G. Original Jurisdiction
Based on Section 5(1), Article VIII:
Cases affecting ambassadors, public ministers, consuls
Petitions for:
Certiorari
Prohibition
Mandamus
Quo warranto
Habeas corpus
Can refuse petitions if they should be at lower courts
Takes on high-profile or urgent cases
Requires "grave abuse of discretion"
Defined as "capricious and whimsical exercise of judgment amounting to lack of jurisdiction"
IV. Court of Appeals
A. Review Courts
Second-highest court
50 Justices + 1 Presiding Justice
17 divisions, 3 members each
B. Jurisdiction
Reviews decisions from:
Regional Trial Courts
Court of Tax Appeals (before RA 9262)
21 quasi-judicial agencies (Rule 43)
National Amnesty Commission
Office of the Ombudsman
National Labor Relations Commission (via Rule 65 certiorari)
C. Handles Appeals
From CSC, SEC, CTA decisions
V. Regional Trial Court (RTC)
A. Trial Courts
Criminal cases with higher fines or longer jail terms
Civil cases with unquantifiable subject value or demand above first-level court limits
Acts as appellate courts
Designated for cases affecting public ministers
B. Writs Issued by RTCs
Certiorari – corrects lower court’s grave abuse of discretion
Mandamus – commands performance of ministerial act
Quo warranto – challenges right to hold office
Habeas corpus – challenges unlawful detention
Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) – short-term preventive order
Preliminary injunction – temporary prohibition until case resolved
Mandatory injunction – commands action
Dissatisfied litigants may elevate RTC decisions to CA
VI. First-Level Courts
Metropolitan Trial Courts (MeTCs) – Metro Manila
Municipal Trial Courts (MTCs) – Outside Metro Manila
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (MCTCs) – Cover multiple municipalities
A. Jurisdiction
Violations of ordinances
Offenses with imprisonment ≤ 6 years or fines ≤ P4,000
Fines ≤ P20,000 if damage is due to criminal negligence
Bouncing check cases
B. Civil Cases
Property/demands:
≤ P100,000 for MTCs
≤ P200,000 for MeTCs
VII. Shari'a Courts
Shari'a Circuit Courts (SCC) – same level as MCTC
Shari'a District Courts (SDC) – same level as RTC
Apply Muslim Code on Personal Laws in Muslim Mindanao
Decisions appealable to Shari’a Appellate Court
VIII. Powers of the Supreme Court
Original jurisdiction:
Ambassadors, ministers, consuls
Petitions: writs or orders
Reviews final judgments of lower courts for:
Constitutionality of laws, treaties, decrees, etc.
Legality of taxes, assessments, penalties
Lower court jurisdiction issues
Criminal penalties of reclusion perpetua or higher
Pure questions of law
Assign judges temporarily (max 6 months with consent)
Change trial venue
Promulgate rules on:
Rights protection
Procedures
Law practice
Integrated Bar
Legal aid
Appoint judiciary officials and employees
Admin supervision of courts and personnel
Sole judge of presidential election contests
Review basis of martial law or suspension of habeas corpus
IX. Following Cases Through the Courts
A. Two Kinds of Cases
Civil Cases
Title shows plaintiff vs defendant
Recover debt, damages
Covers: annulment, foreclosure, inheritance, etc.
Criminal Cases
Violation of law with penalties
Guilty = fine or imprisonment
Heinous crime = death
May spawn related civil suits for damages
X. From Arrest to Imprisonment
Suspect
Arrest
Investigation
Preliminary hearing/arrest
Trial
Conviction
Appeal
Release after full service
XI. Helpful Legal Terms
Pleadings – Written positions of parties, define issues
Complaint – Plaintiff’s version; Answer is defendant’s
Exhibits – Evidence submitted in court
Affidavits – Sworn written statements, not standalone evidence
Arguments – Lawyer’s conclusions, not evidence