Chief Justice of Guam Pays Courtesy Call on Philippine Supreme Court
August 18, 2023
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo (third from left) presents Chief Justice Robert J. Torres, Jr. (second from left) of the U.S. Territory of Guam, with a book on the History of the Supreme Court of the Philippines during a courtesy call on August 18, 2023 at the Dignitaries’ Lounge of the Supreme Court of the Philippines in Padre Faura, Manila. Also in the photo are Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez (left) and Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting (right). (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
The Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, led by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, were paid a courtesy visit by Chief Justice Robert J. Torres, Jr. of the United States (U.S.) Territory of Guam on Friday, August 18, 2023, at the Dignitaries’ Lounge of the Supreme Court of the Philippines in Manila.
Joining Chief Justice Gesmundo were Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting and Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez.
The visit of Chief Justice Torres is line with the preparations being made for the upcoming 62nd Annual Conference of the 2023 American Judges Association on September 9-14, 2023 in Hawaii, U.S.A., where both Chief Justice Gesmundo and Chief Justice Torres will serve as speakers in a special session on the use of technological innovations in the judicial system. The Chief Magistrates will also discuss issues faced by their respective judiciaries in pivoting to new technologies, such as issues on data privacy and cybersecurity.
During the courtesy call, Chief Justice Gesmundo spoke about the Philippine Judiciary’s use of technology in court processes, especially the use of videoconferencing platforms in order to expedite trials during the height of the pandemic. He added that the use of videoconferencing in hearings will remain and become the norm even beyond the pandemic.
Chief Justice Torres meanwhile stressed the importance of training judges on the responsible use of social media. This was concurred in by Chief Justice Gesmundo, who shared that guidelines on social media have been incorporated by the Supreme Court of the Philippines in the new Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability for lawyers, which took effect in May 2023. Chief Justice Gesmundo added that this will also be incorporated in the imminent revision of the Code of Judicial Conduct for judges.
The magistrates also discussed the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and agreed that while extremely useful, AI can never replace humans in the dispensation of justice. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, and Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting welcome Chief Justice Robert J. Torres, Jr. of the United States Territory of Guam during a courtesy call on August 18, 2023 at the Dignitaries’ Lounge of the Supreme Court of the Philippines in Padre Faura, Manila. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)