The judiciary, led by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, mourns the passing of retired Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Minita V. Chico Nazario last Feb. 16.

“Justice Nazario will always be remembered as one of those who broke barriers in the history of the Philippine Judiciary,” Gesmundo said.

“The Supreme Court and the entire Judiciary join the loved ones of the late Hon. Justice Minita V. Chico-Nazario in mourning her death. We offer our sincere and deep condolences and prayers,” he said.

Justice Nazario was the first female magistrate and, later on, the first female presiding justice of the Sandiganbayan, the country’s anti-graft court.

She served the government for 47 years, the last five years as SC justice until 2009.

She was a regional trial court (RTC) judge before she was promoted to the Sandiganbayan in 1993. Ten years later, she was named Sandiganbayan presiding justice.

Justice Nazario, who was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1988 and was criminal law examiner in the 2000 Bar Examinations.

After her retirement from the SC, Justice Nazario served as legal consultant and independent director of private firms. She also served as the Dean of the College of Law of the University of Perpetual Help System in Las Piñas City.