By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos and Benjamin Pulta / Philippine News Agency
President Rodrigo Duterte has picked Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez as the new associate justice of the Supreme Court (SC), Malacañang announced on Tuesday.
“I’d like to announce that the Executive Secretary confirms that Jose Midas Marquez has been appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court. Congratulations to Justice Jose Midas Marquez,” acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a virtual presser.
The Palace has yet to release Marquez’s appointment paper.
Marquez replaced retired associate justice Edgardo delos Santos, according to a statement released by the Office of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
In a message to reporters, the SC said Marquez’s appointment was dated September 27.
At 55, he is the second youngest member of the SC, next to Ramon Paul Hernando who is six months younger.
The appointment brings to 12 the justices appointed to the high tribunal with associate justices Benjamin Caguioa, Marvic Leonen, and Estela Perlas-Bernabe the remaining appointees of past administrations.
Marquez is also the sixth Ateneo Law School graduate in the high court, including Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.
Three others are from the University of the Philippines and one each from the Ateneo de Davao, University of Santo Tomas, and University of the East.
Prior to his new stint as the 192nd SC justice, Marquez served as the 14th court administrator.
He stood with the late Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was impeached in 2011 during the Aquino administration.
He also supervised the court’s handling of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre case, where 58 died, including journalists.
His responsibilities included interventions in case management of lower courts, overseeing halls of justice and court houses, issuing circulars and memoranda, and providing public assistance and information.
He likewise led various committees and projects at the SC.
Marquez started his career in the high tribunal in 1991 as a summer apprentice doing legal research at the office of an associate justice while he was still in law school.
He then became a regular law clerk of several SC justices until he served as court administrator.
He once served as spokesperson and Public Information Office chief of the SC, as well as chief of staff of the Office of Chief Justice.
According to the Constitution, to be appointed to the Supreme Court, one must be a natural born citizen, at least 40 years old, and must have been a judge or engaged in the practice of law for at least 15 years or more.
An additional constitutional requirement, though less precise in nature, is that a judge “must be a person of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence.” (PNA)-rir
