Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 140)
The Act defines the judicial districts of the Philippine Islands, prescribes the salaries of the judges thereof, and sets the times and places where terms of Courts of First Instance shall be held in the several districts.
Fourteen judicial districts are established by this Act.
The First Judicial District consists of the Provinces of Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Viscaya.
The annual salary of the judge of the District of Manila is five thousand five hundred dollars.
Terms are held at Laoag in Ilocos Norte on the first Tuesdays of January and July; at Tuguegarao in Cagayan on the third Tuesdays of February and August; at Ilagan in Isabela on the first Tuesdays of April and October; and at Bayombong in Nueva Vizcaya on the first Tuesdays of May and November each year.
Yes, a judge of the Court of First Instance may hold a special term of court at any time when, in the judge's opinion, the public good so requires. The special term must be held at a place designated by the Act for regular terms within the judge's district.
Judges have the power to issue writs of injunction and make orders appointing receivers in causes pending in their district even when they are within the district but outside the province. They may also issue other preliminary and interlocutory orders.
All final hearings must be held within the province unless the parties consent to a hearing at a place outside the province.
All criminal trials must be tried at the place designated by law as the place where the court having jurisdiction shall be held.
Such actions shall be triable in the Court of First Instance held in the island or province nearest to the island where the cause of action arose.