SC Launches Revised Book of Judicial Forms, Collation and Codification of Supreme Court Issuances
December 1, 2023
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo receives from Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Chairperson of the Technical Working Group under the Court’s Sub-Committee for the Revision of the Rules of Civil Procedure to Study and Revise the Book of Forms, the physical copy of the Revised Book of Judicial Forms and the Collation and Codification of SC Issuances during its launch at the Session Hall of the Supreme Court on November 24, 2023. Also in photo are TWG, Vice Chairperson Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Magdangal M. De Leon, and TWG Members CA Associate Justice Jose Lorenzo R. Dela Rosa, Judge Niño Delvin E. Embuscado of the Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC), Branch 66, Makati City, and Judge Rigor R. Pascual. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
In a momentous event held at the Session Hall of the Supreme Court, the judiciary unveiled the Revised Book of Judicial Forms and the Collation and Codification of SC Issuances on November 24, 2023, pivotal publications that mark a significant stride in the court’s pursuit of excellence and innovation, aligning seamlessly with the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI).
The Revised Book of Judicial Forms (Civil Actions, Special Proceedings, Special Civil Actions, Provisional Remedies, and The Rules on Expedited Procedures in the First Level Courts) is a compilation of templates that may be used by judges and legal practitioners in civil cases and special proceedings. On the other hand, the Collation and Codification of SC Issuances is a centralized repository of the Court’s issuances containing circulars, memoranda, and orders issued by the High Court from the year 2000 up to the present.
During the event, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo emphasized the transformative impact of these publications, providing judges with cutting-edge tools to enhance their ability to deliver prompt and proficient services, a key focus of the SPJI’s commitment to Efficiency. In a move toward greater Innovation, both publications have been digitized and made available on the Supreme Court website, not only benefiting judges but extending accessibility to lawyers, law students, and litigants. The Judicial Forms and Compilation further contribute to the SPJI’s goal of Access by making court services more transparent and accessible to the public.
Chief Justice Gesmundo highlighted the Revised Book of Judicial Forms’ capability to streamline the court process. Judges can now issue orders on the spot, saving valuable time with preformatted templates that eliminate delays traditionally experienced in the service of the usual processes which judges can use instead to focus on writing extended resolutions and decisions.
The Collation and Codification of SC Issuances, on the other hand, consolidates administrative directives, providing a comprehensive resource for judges and practitioners on various legal matters, from bail matters, to hours of court sessions, to release of detainees, placing “much-needed resource materials literally at the fingertips of our judges and the practitioners who appear before the courts”
To access and download a copy of the Revised Book of Judicial Forms in MS Word format, go to the SC website [https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/downloads/], click “Downloads” and look for “Judicial Forms.”
Similarly, the Collation and Codification of SC Issuances can be downloaded from the SC e-Library [https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/assets/pdf/journals/Collation_and_Codification_of_SC_Issuance_DIGITAL.pdf].
Chief Justice Gesmundo also articulated the court’s dedication to evolving justice practices in alignment with societal needs. “Our aim is not only to build on existing frameworks but to repurpose them, breathing new life into our approaches to deliver justice that is not only swift but also finely attuned to the evolving needs of our society. Thus, the present direction of the Court is towards timely and fair justice that is transparent and accountable, equal and inclusive, as well as technologically-adaptive,” said Chief Justice Gesmundo.
The Revised Book of Judicial Forms was made through the initiative of the Technical Working Group under the Court’s Sub-Committee for the Revision of the Rules of Civil Procedure to Study and Revise the Book of Forms, which is chaired by Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh. The revision of the Book of Judicial Forms was in partnership with the University of the Philippines Law Center – Institute for the Administration of Justice.
Justice Singh, in her welcome address, affirmed that the Revised Book of Judicial Forms achieves the targeted outcomes of Efficiency, Innovation, and Access under the SPJI. She formally turned over the physical copy of the Revised Book to Chief Justice Gesmundo.
Meanwhile, Mr. Christian Eldon, Programme Team Leader of the European Union, Justice Sector Reform Program: Governance in Justice (GOJUST), formally turned over the physical copy of the Collation and Codification of Issuances to the Chief Justice. GOJUST played a pivotal role in funding the publication. Professor Michael Tiu from the University of the Philippines and Atty. Carolyn Mercado, Senior Advisor for Justice Policy and Engagement of GOJUST were acknowledged for their work on the Collation.
To showcase the practical use of the Revised Book of Judicial Forms, Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Jose Lorenzo R. Dela Rosa and Judge Niño Delvin E. Embuscado of the Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC), Branch 66, Makati City conducted a live demonstration. Both are members of the TWG under the Court’s Sub-Committee for the Revision of the Rules of Civil Procedure to Study and Revise the Book of Forms. University of the Philippines Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II also delivered a special message.
CA Associate Justice Magdangal M. De Leon, Vice Chairperson of the Subcommittee, delivered the closing message.
Witnessing the launch were Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Associate Justice Jose C. Reyes (ret.), and Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang.
Also in attendance were TWG member Judge Rigor R. Pascual; Secretariat members Atty. Jose Armand C. Arevalo University of the Philippines Law Center – Institute for the Administration of Justice and Atty. Stephanie Janine G. Pua of the Office of Associate Justice Singh.
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo is the keynote speaker at the launch of the Revised Book of Judicial Forms and the Collation and Codification of SC Issuances at the Session Hall of the Supreme Court on Friday, November 24, 2023. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, Chairperson of the Technical Working Group under the Court’s Sub-Committee for the Revision of the Rules of Civil Procedure to Study and Revise the Book of Forms, gives the welcome address at the launch of the Revised Book of Judicial Forms and the Collation and Codification of SC Issuances at the Session Hall of the Supreme Court on Friday, November 24, 2023. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo receives from Mr. Christian Eldon, Programme Team Leader of the European Union, Justice Sector Reform Program: Governance in Justice (GOJUST), the physical copy of the Collation and Codification of Issuances. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo (fifth from left) and Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier (fourth from left) pose for posterity with the Technical Working Group under the Supreme Court’s Sub-Committee for the Revision of the Rules of Civil Procedure to Study and Revise the Book of Forms, chaired by Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh (fifth from right). Joining them are Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Magdangal M. De Leon, TWG Vice Chairperson; CA Associate Justice Jose Lorenzo R. Dela Rosa, Judge Niño Delvin E. Embuscado of the Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC), Branch 66, Makati City, and Judge Rigor R. Pascual, TWG members. Also in photo are SC Associate Justice Jose C. Reyes, Jr. (Ret.), University of the Philippines (UP) Chancellor Edgardo Carlo Vistan II, and Prof. Gwen B. Grecia-De Vera of the UP Law Center-Institute for Administration of Justice. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)