Law Summary
Judicial Composition and Branch Assignments per District
- Specifies number of judges commissioned and branches created for Courts of First Instance across multiple judicial districts.
- Details include:
- First Judicial District: 10 judges covering Cagayan, Batanes, Apayao, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya.
- Second Judicial District: 17 judges across Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Baguio, Benguet, Mountain Province, La Union.
- Similar detailed assignments up to the Sixteenth Judicial District covering Mindanao and other provinces.
- Each judge assigned to numbered branches within their court jurisdiction.
Assignment and Stationing of Judges
- Clear provisions on where judges are to be physically stationed and hold court within their jurisdiction.
- Detailed listing of municipalities and cities per judicial district. For example:
- First Judicial District judges are stationed in Tuguegarao, Aparri, Sanchez Mira, Tuao, and others in Cagayan and neighboring provinces.
- Second Judicial District judges are assigned cities and municipalities in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Baguio City, Mountain Province, etc.
- Provisions establish accessibility of courts to various localities.
Special Annual Terms of Court in Specific Locations
- Eleventh Judicial District mandates special court terms:
- At Culasi, Antique on the first Tuesday of December.
- At San Agustin, Romblon on third Tuesday of August, December, and April.
- At Odiongan and Cajidiocan, Romblon at least once a year.
- Thirteenth Judicial District includes:
- Calbayog branch to hold court at Basey, Samar annually on first Tuesday of January.
- Laoang branch at Gamay annually on first Tuesday of July.
Qualification of Municipal Court Judges and Justices of the Peace
- Sets eligibility criteria:
- Minimum age 30 years.
- Must be Filipino citizen.
- Must have good moral character without felony convictions.
- Admitted to practice law by Supreme Court.
- At least five years of law practice in the Philippines.
Handling of Cases with Additional Branches of Court of First Instance
- New branches shall not take over cases already filed in existing branches.
- Cases continue to be heard and decided by the original court where filed.
Compensation and Duties of Court Stenographers
- Base compensation set at:
- Not less than ₱4,800 per annum generally.
- ₱6,000 per annum for stenographers in major cities (Manila, Pasay, Quezon City, Caloocan) and key provinces (Rizal, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Leyte, Davao).
- Stenographers must submit sworn statements verifying transcript completion and providing copies to requesting parties.
- Transcript of appealed cases must be completed and attached within 60 days of appellate court notice.
Appropriation of Funds
- Allocates necessary funding from unappropriated National Treasury funds for the law's implementation.
Effectivity Clause
- The Act takes effect immediately upon approval on June 22, 1963.