Last November 15, President Simeon Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III appointed Dean Artemio G. Tuquero, Jr., who served as Justice Secretary during the administration of President Joseph Estrada, as the newest member of the Judicial and Bar Council.

Tuquero replaced Dean Amado L. Dimayuga, who retired last July, as representative for the academe. He is the former dean of the University of the East College of Law and Manuel L. Quezon University School of Law. He was appointed for a term of four years.

Chief Justice Renato C. Corona is the JBC ex-officio chair. Other JBC ex-officio members are Senator Francis Joseph G. Escudero (representative for Senate), and Rep. Neil C. Tupaz, Jr. (House of Representatives), while the regular JBC members are retired SC Justice Regino C. Hermosisima (Retired SC Justices), Atty. J Conrado P. Castro (Integrated Bar of the Philippines), and retired CA Justice Aurora S. Lagman (Private Sector).

Under the 1987 Constitution, the JBC has “the principal function of recommending appointees to the judiciary.” The JBC is a constitutionally created body which receives and screens nominations for all judicial posts, as well as nominations for Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman.