Chief Justice Gesmundo meets with Japanese Chief Justice Saburo Tokura to discuss digitalization of court proceedings.
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo (seated, center, 1st row) and (from left) Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda, and Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan lead the Supreme Court delegation to Japan during a courtesy visit on the Supreme Court of Japan on March 7, 2024. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
On March 7, 2024, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and Associate Justices Rodil V. Zalameda, Samuel H. Gaerlan, and Jose Midas P. Marquez were welcomed to the Supreme Court of Japan by Japanese Chief Justice Saburo Tokura. The Philippine delegation was accompanied by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano and Consul General Charmaine A. Serna-Chua.
During the visit, Director Katsuya Kusano and Attorney Mao Kanda of the Japanese Supreme Court’s Digital Promotion Section presented the Philippine delegation with an overview of the Japanese Supreme Court’s progress in the digitalization of their court proceedings.
Thereafter, Chief Justice Gesmundo and Chief Justice Tokura exchanged insights on the adoption of technology in court proceedings in their respective jurisdictions. Chief Justice Gesmundo shared the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovation 2022-2027, or the SPJI, which contains the innovation roadmap of the Philippine Judiciary. During the exchange, the two Chief Justices agreed that the digitalization of court proceedings, particularly the implementation of videoconferencing hearings, is extremely beneficial for archipelagic countries like Japan and the Philippines. In Japan, web conferencing was introduced for civil suits in February 2020. While in the Philippines, the guidelines for the conduct of videoconferencing hearings have likewise been in place since December 2020.
The Chief Justices also discussed the upcoming meeting of the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices, or the CACJ, which will be hosted by the Philippines. Japan is one of the ASEAN+ nations, together with China and South Korea. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Philippine Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and Japanese Chief Justice Saburo Tokura exchange insights on the adoption of technology in court proceedings in their respective jurisdictions. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
The Supreme Court delegation led by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and Associate Justices Rodil V. Zalameda, Samuel H. Gaerlan, and Jose Midas P. Marquez meet with Chief Justice Saburo Tokura of the Supreme Court of Japan. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
The Philippine Supreme Court delegation led by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and Associate Justices Rodil V. Zalameda, Samuel H. Gaerlan, and Jose Midas P. Marquez are given an executive briefing on the digitization efforts of the Supreme Court of Japan. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
(From left) Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda, and Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez pose for posterity following their courtesy visit on Japanese Chief Justice Saburo Tokura. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)