No work today, March 10, for women judges in PH's trial courts
Today, March 10, is a “day off” for all women judges of the country’s trial courts as they are allowed by the Supreme Court (SC) to celebrate their special day, the International Day of Women Judges.
Their “day off” was approved by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo in line with the United Nations General Assembly resolution that declared the 10th day of March as International Day of Women Judges.
The “day off” was also recommended by SC Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, president of the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA) and vice president of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ).
The memorandum on the “day off” was issued to trial court judges by Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva.
Earlier this month during the kickoff ceremony of Women’s Month at the SC, Chief Justice Gesmundo stressed: "Women are indispensable to the progress of our nation. A nation that truly values and supports women’s contributions is a nation that prospers.”
The judiciary’s celebration of women’s month has the theme “Babae: Sapat ka! Higit pa!” It pays tribute to women as “Pillars of the Rule of Law and a Just and Humane Society.”
The country women judges had a three-day convention last week at the at the Manila Hotel and assessed the gains so far achieved in the five-year judicial reform program that was launched in 2022.
Fifty-six percent of all trial court judges in the Philippines are women.
As of Dec. 31, 2024, there are 1,260 women and 985 men judges in the regional trial courts, metropolitan trial courts, municipal trial courts in cities, municipal trial courts, municipal circuit trial courts, and shari’a courts.
At the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), 77 percent of the incumbent justices are women; 45 percent at the Court of Appeals (CA); and 35 percent at the Sandiganbayan.
There are two lady magistrates in the 15-member Supreme Court (SC) – Associate Justices Lazaro-Javier and Maria Filomena D. Singh.
The CA is led by Presiding Justice Fernando C. Lampas-Peralta, while the Sandiganbayan is headed by Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith A. Econg.
Gesmundo said that “across the Judiciary, women also serve as attorneys, judicial officers, and administrative personnel who uphold the integrity and efficiency of our justice system.”
He noted that “their growing presence in all levels and aspects of the Judiciary shows the ongoing transformation of our legal institutions, ensuring that women’s voices and perspectives are represented and heard at every level.”