Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8557)
The main policy objective declared in Section 1 is to ensure an efficient and credible Judiciary by providing continuing good education and training to members of the Judiciary and prospective applicants.
The Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA) is an institution established as a separate component unit of the Supreme Court that operates under its administration, supervision, and control, focused on training justices, judges, court personnel, lawyers, and judicial aspirants.
PHILJA's primary functions include serving as a training school, implementing a curriculum for judicial education, conducting seminars, workshops, and other training programs to upgrade legal knowledge, moral fitness, probity, efficiency, and capability of its participants.
The PHILJA shall be located in Tagaytay City or in such other place or places as the Supreme Court may determine.
The Board of Trustees consists of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (ex officio Chairman), Senior Associate Justice (ex officio Vice Chairman), the Chancellor of PHILJA, Presiding Justices of the Court of Appeals and the Sandiganbayan, the Court Administrator, the President of the Philippine Judges Association, the President of the Philippine Association of Law Schools (all ex officio members), and one appointive Judge from a first-level court appointed by the Supreme Court.
The appointive member must have served as a judge for at least five years and have taught in a reputable law school for the same number of years.
They must have served with meritorious service as a member of a collegiate appellate court for at least five years or as a Regional Trial Court Judge for at least ten years and have served as law teachers in reputable law schools for at least five years.
The term length for the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, and Executive Secretary is two years, renewable upon reappointment by the Supreme Court.
The Executive Officials of PHILJA shall not engage in the private practice of any profession.
They serve as academic instructors, nominated by Board members and appointed by the Supreme Court for two-year terms, responsible for academic courses and the publications of legal writings such as the Judicial Journal.
Only participants who have completed the programs prescribed by PHILJA and satisfactorily complied with all requirements may be appointed or promoted to any position or vacancy in the Judiciary.
Yes, PHILJA may enter into consortium agreements with educational and training institutions for programs related to orientation, career development, and continuing judicial education, provided that honoraria and other emoluments of personnel from these institutions are not taken from PHILJA funds.
No, all income, legacies, gifts, and donations for PHILJA are exempt from all forms of taxes, including donors' and donees' taxes, fees, income tax, real estate assessments, and other government charges.
It is a special fund consisting of all legacies, gifts, and donations to PHILJA, administered and disbursed exclusively by the Board of Trustees for the purposes of the Act.
All such properties, real or personal, are automatically transferred to PHILJA unless the original deed provides otherwise.
Funds necessary for PHILJA's operation, maintenance, and improvement are included in the General Appropriations Act for 1999 and subsequent years under the Supreme Court's program.
If any provision is declared invalid, other provisions not affected remain in force; laws, rules, or regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed or amended accordingly.
It took effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation, whichever came earlier.