The Judicial and Bar Council has transmitted to Malacanang seven aspirants for Supreme Court associate justice post vacated by retired Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr. last May 11.
In a transmittal letter, the JBC concurrently chaired by Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta shortlisted six Court of Appeals justices and Court Administrator Midas Marquez for the vacancy in the 15-member bench.
Aside from Marquez, also nominated were CA justices Japar Dimaampao, Jhosep Lopez, Ramon Cruz, Manuel Barrios, Ricardo Rosario and Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, an ex-officio member of the JBC, said the JBC will transmit the list to the Office of the President before the end of business hours on Monday.
The JBC is a constitutional body mandated to screen and vet applicants for judiciary posts and is tasked to come up with a shortlist to be sent to the president, who is mandated by the Constitution to pick his appointee from the list.
In revised JBC rules effective yesterday, June 8, applicants for the position of SC associate justice or chief justice should have at least 2.5 years left in service if they have previously served as associate justice or presiding justice of an appellate court; court administrator; chairperson of a constitutional commission; solicitor general or department secretary.
If they had not served any of these positions or are private practitioners, applicants should have at least five years left in service.
The revised JBC rules also say applicants must get at least 4 votes from the council to be included in the shortlist. The number of nominees for every vacancy should be at least three and not more than seven, unless there is a tie.