Former justices offer guidance on Duterte impeachment voting threshold

MANILA — Four retired members of the Supreme Court submitted amicus curiae briefs Wednesday addressing the constitutional voting threshold that will govern the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The intervention came during the 26th day of proceedings against the vice president. The retired justices offered their legal positions on three specific questions posed by the impeachment court to guide senator-judges in their voting procedures and requirements.

Amicus curiae submissions, or "friends of the court" briefs, allow parties with relevant expertise or interest to present arguments to adjudicating bodies. In this case, the retired jurists sought to clarify the constitutional framework governing impeachment trials and the threshold needed for conviction.

The submission of these briefs underscores the complexity of constitutional questions surrounding the impeachment process. Legal scholars and former high court officials have increasingly weighed in on procedural matters as the trial continues to advance through successive phases.

The impeachment court is expected to use the submissions and guidance from multiple legal sources as senator-judges prepare to render their judgments on the articles of impeachment filed against the vice president.