The judicial department is one of the three branches of government that interprets and applies the laws to resolve legal disputes. The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court and lower courts. The Supreme Court has 15 Justices and has powers like settling legal controversies, judicial review, and assigning judges. It oversees the court system which includes the Court of Appeals, regional trial courts, and lower courts that handle trials.

1. TTHEHE JJUDICIALUDICIAL
DDEPARTMENTEPARTMENT
REPORTED BY : ALTA GRACIA S. BAÑACIAREPORTED BY : ALTA GRACIA S. BAÑACIA
ARISTOTEL M. PAMITTANARISTOTEL M. PAMITTAN

2. JudiciaryJudiciary
 one of the three branches of theone of the three branches of the
governmentgovernment
 interprets the lawinterprets the law
 provides mechanism for theprovides mechanism for the
resolution of disputeresolution of dispute

3. The Judicial PowerThe Judicial Power
 Article VIII, Section 1:Article VIII, Section 1: Judicial powerJudicial power
will be vested in thewill be vested in the Supreme CourtSupreme Court
andand all lower courtsall lower courts
 Judicial powerJudicial power: the power to: the power to applyapply
the lawsthe laws to contests or disputesto contests or disputes
concerning legally recognized rightsconcerning legally recognized rights

4. Judicial PowerJudicial Power
 Generally entails two activities:Generally entails two activities:
1.1. SettlingSettling legal controversieslegal controversies
1.1. Determining whether there hasDetermining whether there has
beenbeen grave abuse of discretiongrave abuse of discretion
amounting to lack or excess ofamounting to lack or excess of
jurisdiction by any branch ofjurisdiction by any branch of
governmentgovernment

5. Scope of Judicial PowerScope of Judicial Power
 Adjudicating PowerAdjudicating Power
 The power to settle legal disputesThe power to settle legal disputes
 Power of Judicial ReviewPower of Judicial Review
 Refers to the power of the SupremeRefers to the power of the Supreme
Court to interpret and make judgmentsCourt to interpret and make judgments
with respect to the lawwith respect to the law
 Incidental PowersIncidental Powers
 Powers necessary for the discharge ofPowers necessary for the discharge of
the judicial functionthe judicial function

6. Powers of the Supreme CourtPowers of the Supreme Court
 SC hasSC has jurisdictionjurisdiction over:over:
 Cases involving ambassadors andCases involving ambassadors and
public ministerspublic ministers
 Petitions forPetitions for certioraricertiorari,, mandamusmandamus,,
quo warrantoquo warranto, prohibition &, prohibition & habeashabeas
corpuscorpus
 Review judgmentsReview judgments of lower courtsof lower courts
 Cases involving constitutionality,Cases involving constitutionality,
legality of any tax,legality of any tax, reclusion perpetuareclusion perpetua
and errors on questions of lawand errors on questions of law

7.  Assignment of judges to the lowerAssignment of judges to the lower
courtscourts
 Order a change of venue for a trialOrder a change of venue for a trial
 Promulgate rules of courtPromulgate rules of court
 Appoint officials of the judiciary andAppoint officials of the judiciary and
hire employees for the judicialhire employees for the judicial
branchbranch
Powers of the Supreme CourtPowers of the Supreme Court

8. Rendering Court DecisionsRendering Court Decisions
 Once a decision is reached, a SCOnce a decision is reached, a SC
Justice is assigned to write anJustice is assigned to write an
opinionopinion
 The opinion isThe opinion is certified by the Chiefcertified by the Chief
Justice and servedJustice and served to the partiesto the parties
concernedconcerned
 DissentionsDissentions andand abstentionsabstentions must bemust be
explainedexplained
 TheThe opinionopinion must explainmust explain facts of lawfacts of law

9. Organization of PhilippineOrganization of Philippine
CourtsCourts
SUPREME COURT
COURT OF APPEALS
REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS
SHARI’A DISTRICT
COURTS
METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS
MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN
CITIES
MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS
MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL
COURTS
SHARI’A CIRCUIT COURTS
APPELLATE
COURTS
TRIALS
COURTS
SANDIGANBAYAN
COURT OF TAX
APPEALS
QUASI-JUDICIAL AGENCIES

10. The Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court
 CompositionComposition
 1 Chief Justice and 14 Associate1 Chief Justice and 14 Associate
JusticesJustices
 SitsSits en bancen banc or in divisionsor in divisions
 QualificationsQualifications
 By appointmentBy appointment
 40 years of age40 years of age
 Natural born citizenNatural born citizen


11. SUPREME COURTSUPREME COURT
COMPOSITIONCOMPOSITION
 CHIEF JUSTICE – MARIACHIEF JUSTICE – MARIA
LOURDES P.A. SERENOLOURDES P.A. SERENO
14 ASSOCIATE JUSTICE14 ASSOCIATE JUSTICE
 ANTONIO T. CARPIOANTONIO T. CARPIO
 PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JRPRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR
 TERESITA J. LEONARDO DETERESITA J. LEONARDO DE
CASTROCASTRO

12.  ARTURO D. BRIONARTURO D. BRION
 DIOSDADO M. PERALTADIOSDADO M. PERALTA
 LUCAS P. BERSAMINLUCAS P. BERSAMIN
 MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLOMARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO
 MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR.MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR.
 JOSE P. PEREZJOSE P. PEREZ
 JOSE C. MENDOZAJOSE C. MENDOZA

13.  BIENVENIDO L. REYESBIENVENIDO L. REYES
 ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABEESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABE
 MARVIC MARIO VICTOR F.MARVIC MARIO VICTOR F.
LEONENLEONEN
 ROBERTO A. ABAD – (RETIRED)ROBERTO A. ABAD – (RETIRED)

14. ISSUES AND CONCERNISSUES AND CONCERN
 TREATIESTREATIES
 CONSTITUTIONALITYCONSTITUTIONALITY
 LEGALITY OF ANY TAXLEGALITY OF ANY TAX
 ERRORS ON QUESTIONS OFERRORS ON QUESTIONS OF
LAWLAW