By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is poised to make his second appointment to the Supreme Court as the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) formally opens the selection process for the successor of Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier.
The JBC announced the opening of applications for the high court post as Lazaro-Javier approaches her mandatory retirement on November 16, 2026.
Her retirement will create another vacancy in the 15-member Supreme Court and give Marcos another opportunity to put his choice on the country’s highest tribunal.
Lazaro-Javier was appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte on March 7, 2019.
The coming appointment will be Marcos’ second Supreme Court nomination since taking office.
His first appointee was Associate Justice Raul Villanueva, who joined the high court last year.
The next appointment will therefore further add to the judicial legacy of the Marcos administration as the President selects another member of the tribunal tasked with resolving some of the country’s most consequential constitutional and legal disputes.
The JBC, which screens and recommends candidates for judicial appointments, is now accepting applications from qualified candidates.
Applicants are required to submit various documents, including application and recommendation letters, income tax returns, and Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), among other documentary requirements.
The process will allow the council to assess the qualifications and integrity of prospective candidates before determining those who will advance for consideration.
A Supreme Court appointment carries significance far beyond filling a vacant position.
The incoming justice will join the tribunal in deciding cases involving constitutional questions, government powers, individual rights, national policies and other issues with long-term consequences for the country.
With the JBC now beginning the search, attention shifts to the legal community and potential candidates who may seek one of the most influential judicial posts in the Philippines.
Once the JBC completes its screening and submits its shortlist, the final choice will rest with Marcos.
For the President, the upcoming appointment is not simply about replacing a retiring justice.
It is another opportunity to shape the direction of the Supreme Court for years to come.
ia/xf
