The new Supreme Court

Like all once immutable age-old institutions, the 125-year-old Supreme Court of the Philippines is undergoing an unprecedented modernization and transformation, thanks to the five-year Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI) of Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

“The SPJI was developed from a simple but important recognition that an institution entrusted with constitutional responsibilities must continually examine how it can better fulfill its constitutional mission,” Chief Justice Gesmundo, 69, told the MOPC Judiciary Night, Aug. 7 at Fairmont, Makati.

The SPJI “provides direction for reforms designed to strengthen judicial integrity, enhance court efficiency, expand access to justice and modernize the delivery of judicial services.” The idea: “Ensure that the justice system remains responsive to the needs and realities of the Filipino people.”

SPJI’s foundation is integrity. “Those who administer justice must do so according to the highest ethical standards,” declares Chief Justice Gesmundo.

Accordingly, the SC has “adopted the Code of Judicial Conduct and Accountability and the Code of Conduct and Accountability for Court Officials and Employees, recognizing that the delivery of justice depends not only on the decisions issued by judges, but also on the dedication, professionalism and ethical conduct of every person who forms part of the judiciary.”

“Every employee who assists a litigant, processes a document, manages a record or performs a court function contributes to the public’s experience of justice,” explains Chief Gesmundo.

Integrity must be accompanied by competence. No justice delayed, asserts the Chief.

“Every unresolved case represents individuals whose concerns remain pending and whose search for justice continues. For this reason, efficiency is not simply a matter of procedure. It is a responsibility of justice itself,” he says. “The judiciary must continue to ensure that cases are resolved fairly, promptly and through processes that are transparent, reliable and worthy of public confidence. This commitment has guided the judiciary’s continuing efforts to strengthen both judicial independence and institutional capacity.”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed RA 12233 (the Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act of 2025) which makes judiciary people among the highest paid so they can “fulfill (their) responsibilities effectively and sustainably” (and ) “decide cases according to the Constitution and the law, free from external pressure or influence.” The judiciary 2027 budget is P86.27 billion, up 27 percent from P67.9 billion in 2026.

Gesmundo has reformed court administration. The Office of the Regional Court Manager (ORCM) “strengthens administrative support for trial courts, improves operational coordination and helps ensure that judges and court personnel are better supported in the performance of their responsibilities.”

A newly created Office of the Judicial Marshals seeks to protect judiciary personnel from “threat, intimidation or fear” and to safeguard the rule of law itself.

The judiciary now has the Judicial Burnout Scale app which helps identify stress and burnout at an early stage.

Integrity and competence must ultimately find meaning in whether justice is truly accessible, says Chief Gesmundo. “Justice cannot remain distant from the people who need it most. It must be available, understandable and meaningful to every Filipino, regardless of status, location or circumstance.”

Thus, the SC has initiatives such as:

• eCourt PH 2.0, electronic filing and service, digital records management and other technological innovations;

• “Artificial Intelligence through Scriptix, an AI-assisted transcription software that significantly reduces the time needed to prepare court transcripts from weeks to days, allowing court personnel to focus on more essential judicial work;”

• A new Rules on Electronic Notarization;

• The Philippine Reports E-Books that enable lawyers, judges, law students, researchers and the public to access the Court’s official decisions anytime and anywhere;

• The Judicial and Bar Council’s Online Registration and Application Form, or ORAS. Previously, applicants had to prepare and submit the same set of paper documents every time they applied for a judicial vacancy.

At the Aug. 7 Judiciary Night, the MOPC gave Chief Justice Gesmundo a two-foot solid hardwood trophy, designed by Tony Lopez and sculpted in Pampanga. The Chief Justice was honored for:

“Over 40 years of service to the people and country in pursuit of good governance and speedy, inclusive and transformative justice, especially for those who have less in law, less in life and less in dignity, a quality and value to which every man is entitled, with his pioneering reforms to modernize and democratize the judiciary through digitalization and technology upgrade that streamlined processes, facilitated judicial proceedings and improved people’s access to justice.

“As the 27th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, he launched the trailblazing Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI) anchored on justice that is timely and fair, transparent and accountable, equal and inclusive and administered with technologically adaptive management. This is his legacy and the gold standard.”

The trophy was handed by MOPC chair Tony Lopez assisted by First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos, retired Chief Justice Art Panganiban, MOPC vice chair Ambassador to the US Babe Romualdez, MOPC president Jimmy Policarpio, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida and the MOPC governors. Present were nine Supreme Court justices.

“Justice is at its best when it is fair, compassionate and close to the people,” said Liza Marcos, the first First Lady lawyer. “Grateful to spend the evening at the MOPC Judiciary Night and listen to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo’s inspiring message. Here’s to a justice system that continues to serve every Filipino with integrity and heart,” she toasted in her Instagram post.

In a separate Facebook entry, First Lady Liza said: “It was a meaningful reminder that justice is a responsibility we share. As our justice system continues to evolve, may it always remain close to the people it serves – accessible and guided by fairness.”

“The justices were unusually mirthful and enjoyed descending from their lofty perches in Mt. Olympus and loved the company of the inhabitants of the plains,” noted Art Panganiban.

As SC chief, Panganiban engineered the ouster of Joseph Estrada as president following a botched impeachment trial.

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