JBC to interview top Supreme Court justices for chief justice post

MANILA—The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is set to begin its selection process for the next chief justice on October 22, with interviews scheduled to commence with Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, the two most senior members of the incumbent Supreme Court bench.

The JBC, the constitutional body responsible for recommending candidates for the nation's highest judicial office, will conduct the interviews as part of its formal evaluation of applicants seeking the top position at the Court.

According to the Supreme Court, the interview proceedings will be conducted on an open basis, allowing for public transparency in the selection of candidates vying for the chief justice role. The process marks a significant step in the appointment procedure, which will eventually lead to the recommendation of a candidate to the President for formal nomination.

The interviews are expected to assess the qualifications, experience, and judicial philosophy of candidates under consideration for the prestigious position. The chief justice serves as both the head of the Supreme Court and the judiciary as a whole, presiding over the Court's proceedings and administrative functions.