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Philippines judicial selection oversight group formed

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Philippines bar leaders, retired judges, attorneys, law schools and business leaders Monday formed an unofficial judicial oversight group dedicated to providing transparency in the selection of seven justices to the Supreme Court of the Philippines in 2009, when current justices retire. The name of the group, Bantay Korte Suprema (BKS), translates to "Watch the Supreme Court." Candidates for the court are traditionally screened by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), which then submits a list of recommendations to the President. Former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban has called for reforms in the JBC's confidential deliberation process, expressing concerns that the court will soon be dominated by appointees of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Concerns about corruption in the Philippines judiciary have exacerbated calls for an open, impartial selection process. International watchdog groups and political opponents are especially wary of a court controlled by Arroyo's partisans. Arroyo was accused of rigging her 2004 re-election bid and was implicated in a 2007 broadband scandal. She was also the target of coup plots in 2003 and 2006, and has been criticized for 800 alleged extra-judicial killings that have occurred in the country since she came to power.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on November 17, 2008 (boomark / email).