Background of the creation of the Judicial and Bar Council
Before the 1987 Constitution, a good number of citizens, bar associations and civic organizations, and mass media, especially, expressed dissatisfaction over the nation’s system of dispensing justice with a vehemence that reached new heights, considering, (1) a persistently staggering backlog; (2) lazy, dishonest and incompetent members of the judiciary; (3) cumbersome procedures; and (4) dilatory tactics of litigants and lawyers.
Vision of the JBC
A JBC that is independent, efficient and a proactive sentinel of judicial service, guided only by the principles of integrity, excellence and competence; unfettered by the shackles of friendship, relationship, or other considerations, thus vesting the cloak of Magistracy on those who will best dispense justice for all.
Mission of the JBC1
- To recommend appointees to the Judiciary only persons of proven competence, integrity, probity and independence;
- To enhance the quality of the search, screening and selection processes of the Council;
- To speed up the processing of applications for vacancies especially for salas with heavy caseload;
- To promote transparency and public awareness of matters involving the nomination process in the Council;
- To insulate the nomination process from undue influence of any kind.
1 Formulated during the 2007 JBC Strategic and Operations Planning Workshop.